Michael Clarke celebrated his captaincy debut with a century as Australia raced to a 60-run victory over Bangladesh in the opening one-day international yesterday.
The stylish middle-order batsman, leading in his first one-day series after replacing Ricky Ponting as skipper last month, scored 101 to help his team post a challenging 270-7 on a slow pitch.
Bangladesh never looked like achieving the target despite half-centuries from opener Tamim Iqbal (62) and skipper Shakib Al Hasan (51), finishing at 210-5.
“I’m very happy to make a century today. The wicket was quite slow but once you got in, it was a nice wicket to bat on,” said Clarke, named man of the match.
“They [Bangladesh] have four spinners in their team and they have got a lot of talent. So we are pretty happy to get off to a good start, although there is room for improvement,” he said.
Mushfiqur Rahim (44 not out) and Mohammad Mahmudullah (28 not out) were the other notable contributors for Bangladesh, who trail 1-0 in the three-match series.
“We knew they [Australia] would be tough. It was hard to chase 270 on this wicket where the ball was keeping low,” Shakib said. “We will keep sticking to our plans and hopefully we will do well next time.”
Clarke, who cracked two sixes and six fours in his 111-ball knock, earlier propped up the innings just when Bangladesh looked like restricting Australia to a modest total with their tight spin bowling.
Australia were struggling at 138-4 in the 30th over before the skipper added 84 for the fifth wicket with Michael Hussey (33).
Clarke, needing five off the last three deliveries of the innings to complete his hundred, smashed paceman Mashrafe Mortaza for a six before being caught in the deep off the next ball.
Left-arm spinner Suhrawadi Shuvo, who dismissed Hussey and Steven Smith (one) in the same over, was the most successful Bangladeshi bowler with 3-44.
Bangladesh, electing to field after winning the toss, struck in the fourth over when Mortaza bowled Brad Haddin for 10.
Opener Shane Watson (37) and Ponting (34) then dominated the attack with attractive shots. The opener hit Mortaza for a four and a six off successive balls before lofting spinner Abdur Razzak over mid-wicket for a six.
Ponting also looked in excellent touch, cracking three successive fours off Mortaza and hoisting Shuvo over long-on for a six. His brilliant cameo ended when he was run out going for a third run.
Watson, who added 65 for the second wicket with Ponting, also fell when looking well set as he was trapped lbw by Razzak.
SANGAKKARA RALLY FLOPS
AFP, COLOMBO
A campaign by fans of Sri Lanka’s World Cup-losing skipper Kumar Sangakkara to demand his reinstatement ended in a flop yesterday, with only a handful of supporters turning up.
Sangakkara loyalists had organized the demonstration as a Facebook event, with 6,512 fans signing up to attend, but reporters counted only 17 people at Colombo’s Independence Square public park.
“It is possible that some of the fans may have gone to another park because of a misunderstanding about the location,” an organiser told reporters.
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