Australia romp to series victory

SECOND ONE-DAY INTERNATIONAL, Darwin:
Australia 118-2 beat Bangladesh 117 by eight wickets

Opener Shaun Marsh hit an unbeaten 69 to help Australia take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match one-day series against Bangladesh.

After dismissing Bangladesh for 117, Australia wasted little time in chasing their target, with Marsh posting a half-century stand with Shane Watson.

And Australia secured the eight-wicket victory in Darwin in only 22.4 overs, with Mike Hussey not out on eight.

Bangladesh never recovered after losing opener Tamim Iqbal off the first ball.

Tamim was caught by David Hussey from the bowling of Nathan Bracken after the left-hander got an outside edge to a ball that swung away late.

Two more wickets fell inside the first six overs and although the tourists recovered to at least pass their total of 74 from the first game, they were unable to post a target to seriously challenge the hosts.

Wicketkeeper Dhiman Ghosh top scored for Bangladesh with a defiant 30 while Mitchell Johnson was the pick of the Australian bowlers with a haul of 3-17.

The early finish to the Bangladesh innings gave the Australian openers nine overs to bat before the break and eventually they carved out a stand of 73 before Watson was trapped lbw for 29 by spinner Shakib Al Hasan.

Shakib also took the wicket of acting skipper Michael Clarke, who was stumped for one after an impetuous shot.

But Marsh, son of former test batsmen Geoff Marsh, never looked troubled as he followed up his 76 from the first game with another half-century that featured nine fours and a six.

The left-handed Marsh has now scored three half-centuries in six innings for Australia, after he starred in the inaugural Indian Premier League tournament earlier this year.

Australia won the first game by 180 runs last weekend, with the third and final contest taking place on Saturday, also at Darwin's Marrara Cricket Ground.


Courtesy : BBC