Analytical review of the second ODI between Australia and Bangladesh in Darwin on September 3, 2008.

Australia battered Bangladesh by 8 wickets in the second ODI held in Darwin. The 3-match series now stands decidedly in favor of the hosts. Bangladesh showed minor improvement from their performance in the last match but that did nothing to save them from an embarrassing series loss. Bangladeshi players made some gallant promises after the first defeat, claiming that they had eased into the playing conditions and were to show better performance in the matches to come.

Bangladesh chose to bat first in this match, hoping to reverse the last match’s result by setting up a decent target for the hosts. However, their plans went down the drain as they lost opener Tamim Iqbal at the very first ball of the innings. Considering the pre-match comment Tamim made about performing better after playing the first game, things could not have been worse for him.

The top order succumbed to Bracken’s fiery pace and a repeat of the first ODI looked in offing. Junaid Siddique and Shakib Al Hasan did their bit to salvage the innings and thanks to them, Bangladesh managed to cross the fifty-mark at a loss of three. Junaid’s ouster restarted the wicket-falling process which then stopped at the total of 117.

The target was never a threat for the Aussies. They sailed smoothly to the total, losing Shane Watson and Michael Clarke while accomplishing the Mission Minnow. Watson’s knock of 29 was considerable, keeping in mind that he came back after an injury and was sent to play at number two.

Shaun Marsh slammed his second half-century of the series which won him the Man of the Match award for the match. Marsh has shown himself as a promising upcoming opening batsman which is a welcome development for the Aussies. Australia as the number one ODI team succeeds as a team and does not rely on a few names to come to its rescue, unlike India. The first match propositioned the point but the second match went on to establish it as a fact.

Australia doesn’t have much to prove after the two matches. The results were expected even though the team was not playing with its full strength. Bangladesh will not be disappointed with the outcome, although they can cry hoarse about not performing to their “full potential.” We as spectators can only hope for some display of contest from them.

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

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