1st ODI: Aust vs Bang

As expected, Australia have opened the ODI Series against Bangladesh with a clinical victory lead by some fearsome pace bowling by Brett Lee and Jason Gillespie.

Ricky Ponting won the toss for the Australia side, coming off a 3 game losing streak, and elected to send Bangladesh in to bat in Cairns.

The Tigers began their innings in poor fashion, with in-form Hannan Sarkar (1) run out in just the second over by the returning Damien Martyn.

Brett Lee then began on a lethal spell of bowling, snaring 4 straight wickets with good, accurate pace bowling.

He snared Al Sahariar for 8, Habibul Bashar and Alok Kapali ducks while troubled all-rounder Sanwar Hossain fared little better with just 7.

All-rounder Tushar Imran and wicket-keeper Khaled Mashud then added 33 to avoid complete humiliation before Jason Gillespie made a critical tripe breakthrough.

Tushar was the first of the pair to fall victim when he was caught by captain Ponting, soon followed by Mashud, LBW for 18.

When Mohammad Rafique was caught by Andrew Symonds off Gillespie for 3, the Tigers had slumped to 8/80 and were in danger of fading for less than 100.

The embarrassment of a double-figure team score, however, was narrowly averted.

Captain Khaled Mahmud finished unbeaten on 25 as Andy Bichel snared the final two wickets of Hasibul Hossain and Mashrafe Mortaza.

For Australia, Brett Lee finished with splendid yet not entirely unexpected figures of 4/25. Jason Gillespie took 3/23 from his 10 overs while Andy Bichel took the remaining two wickets for 24.

Brad Hogg, while tidy, failed to take a wicket from his 10 overs. Andrew Symonds bowled just 1 over for 5 runs.

Australia lost just 2 wickets in the chase as they came home with little trouble despite a moderate scoring rate.

Adam Gilchrist made 18 before dismissed by Mortaza while Ricky Ponting (29) was bowled by Mohammad Rafique just 4 runs from victory.

Matthew Hayden finished the innings unbeaten on 46.

For Bangladesh, Mashrafe took 1/40 and Rafique an impressive 1/7 off 5 overs.

Scores:

Bangladesh 105 (Tushar Imran 28, B Lee 4/25, J Gillespie 3/23)

Australia 2/107 (M Hayden 46*, Mohammad Rafique 1/7)

Australia won by 8 wickets.

Cricket Web Player-of-the-Match: Brett Lee.

Australia lead the 3 match series 1-0.

Posted by Andre