Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 5 Num 384 Sun. June 26, 2005  
   
Front Page


Spin tames Tigers


Andrew Symonds completed a memorable seven days for both himself and Australia as the world champions thrashed Bangladesh by 10 wickets in Saturday's NatWest Series one-day international here at Old Trafford.

The 30-year-old Queensland all-rounder took a career-best five wickets for 18 runs after missing last Saturday's shock five-wicket defeat against the Tigers in Cardiff after receiving a two-game ban banned for staying out late in the Welsh capital on Friday.

It was only the third time Australia had won a one-day international by 10 wickets after beating West Indies at Adelaide in 2001 and England in Sydney in 2003 by the same margin.

And it was only the 26th ten-wicket win in the 2,254 game history of one-day internationals.

Bangladesh were bowled out for just 139 with more than 14 overs of their innings remaining. Mohammad Ashraful (58) and Shahriar Nafees (47), who put on 90 in 92 balls, were the only Tigers batsmen to make double figures in an innings featuring four ducks.

Australia's left-handed openers Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden, who both finished on 66 not out, knocked off the winning runs in just 19 overs.

Defeat left Bangladesh needing to beat England in Sunday's match at Headingley to have a chance of qualifying for the July 2 Lord's final.

This loss saw the wheel turn full circle for Bangladesh and was their second reverse in four days following their 168-run defeat against England in Nottingham on Tuesday.

Bangladesh's last eight wickets fell for 26 runs, the final five going for two runs in 18 balls.

Left-arm wrist spinner Brad Hogg chipped in with three for 39 as Symonds finished with an analysis of 7.2-1-18-5.