Hastings hattrick guides Australia
Aussie paceman John Hastings (L) celebrates with teammates after completing his hattrick during the warm-up game against BCB XI at Fatullah yesterday. Photo: Anisur Rahman
Australia were served a perfectly enjoyable buffet in their only practice game at the Fatullah Cricket Stadium yesterday with paceman John Hastings grabbing a hattrick and four of their batsmen stroking half-centuries in their 90-run win over the BCB XI side.
Michael Clarke's men piled up 308 for six in 50 overs with Ricky Ponting top-scoring with 69 while Brad Haddin, Clarke himself and Michael Hussey warmed up well for the three-match one-day series against the Tigers that begins tomorrow.
BCB XI were 161 for two in the 36th over before Hastings made headway into the batting line-up, making it 166 for six in the space of his three-over second spell.
BCB XI ended up at 218 for seven in 50 overs with Hastings ending with figures of four for 15 in his seven overs.
Hastings first removed BCB XI skipper Rokibul Hasan to end a 149-run third wicket stand between Rokibul and Maishukur Rahman. Alok Kapali and Shuvogoto Hom Chowdhury were then trapped leg-before in the next two deliveries to give the big Victorian the hattrick. Admittedly, Hastings tried a full delivery on his hattrick ball, the umpire Nadir Shah adjudging Shuvogoto out much to the bowler's delight.
In his next over, he had Maishukur, the home side's top-scorer, caught by Tim Paine for 68.
“It is pretty surprising. When you get one, it is a very special feeling. There were two set batters at the crease and firstly, it was great to get the breakthrough but the next ones were a bonus,” said Hastings.
It was only the 24-year-old Maishukur, a newcomer even for the local media and the small crowd, who battled manfully during his 103-ball innings that had five boundaries. Some of his shots were streaky but a few showed this hidden talent from Bogra. He was involved in the 100-plus stand with Rokibul after the home side were reduced to 12 for two in the sixth over.
“I tried to play according to my ability and tried not to look at them,” said Maishukur who sounded confident despite making a debut in front of the cameras. “It was just a ball coming at me and all I did was meet the ball.”
After reaching his half-century, Maishukur was praised by his more illustrious opponents. “Haddin and Brett Lee told me to continue batting well. They also praised me after I got the half-century,” he said.
Maishukur, who got a reprieve from a diving Haddin on 31, latched on to that chance and batted with confidence as the virtually unknown quantity made his presence felt. Rokibul too looked in control at times but a fondness while facing away-going deliveries would be a cause for concern for national coach Jamie Siddons. He hammered five boundaries in his 94-ball 65 before falling to Hastings.
Earlier, Ponting smashed ten boundaries and a six in his 74-ball knock but it was Haddin who played the most attractive innings, smashing eight boundaries and a six in his 61-ball 66 after Australia had lost their first wicket in the fifth over, thanks to a sharp catch from
Alok Kapali at mid-wicket off Dollar Mahmud, who was a last-minute replacement for Nazmul Hossain.
Dollar and co bowled a poor length throughout, serving up one short ball after another as these world-class batsmen struck one wonderful boundary after another. Clarke's run-a-ball 56 went almost unnoticed as Hussey made his presence felt in the late overs. He too struck a half-century, ending with an unbeaten 52 off 50 balls with two huge sixes.
Shuvogotohom, with his occasional off-spin, and pacers Forhad Reza, Mahbubul Alam and Dollar Mahmud all took a wicket each.
BRIEF SCORES
AUSTRALIA: 308-6 in 50 overs (Ponting 69, Haddin 66, Clarke 56, Hussey 52 not out; Shuvogotohom 1-18).
BCB XI: 218-7 in 50 overs (Maishukur 68, Rokibul 65; Hastings 4-15, Johnson 2-24).
Result: Australia won by 90 runs.
Comments