Related Links : 1st ODI Scorecard | Bangladesh in Australia 2008
Bangladesh embarrassed themselves in the first of their 3-ODI Series against a Michael Clarke-led Australia at Darwin. The Tigers were packed for a meager 74 all out in reply to an Australian total of 254 for 8. Just the three Bangladeshi batsmen managed to get into double scores after it looked that the Tigers got scared by the pacy Mitchell Johnson.
The Series got to a controversial start after it was learnt that Andrew Symonds was sent back home on disciplinary grounds by the Australian team management. Andrew Symonds had missed a mandatory team meeting a day before the game and was reported to have gone fishing. Symonds had also given the optional team nets a skip. Symonds was banned by Cricket Australia from this Series against Bangladesh. With the likes of Ponting, Hayden, Brett Lee and now Symonds out of the Series, it really has thrown a lot of opportunities for some fringe players. Brett Geeves, the 26-year-old fast bowler from Tasmania got his first international call-up. Geeves had almost given up his cricketing career until he found some light at the tunnel through an IPL contract with Delhi Daredevils and now an inclusion in the Australian One Day outfit. Geeves helped himself to a good spell of 5-0-11-2 in this first ODI against Bangladesh.
Bangladesh did the right thing in sending the Aussies to bat first after winning the toss as it would only increase the length of the match. The Aussies didn’t really go slam bang and had to settle for a score of 254 losing 8 wickets. Young upcoming star opener Shaun Marsh got himself 76 from 105 balls with just 4 fours to provide a decent start. It was the innings of Michael Hussey that got a secured total, the left hander made 85 from 87 with 5 fours and a six. The Bangladeshi bowlers enjoyed a highly respectable work with the ball. Fast bowler Shahadat Hossain although very expensive, managed three wickets while left arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan got 2 for 46 in his 10. Mashrafe Mortaza was the best as he went for just 31 runs in his 10 overs.
The Bangladeshis never threatened to make a match out of it as their batsmen found the bowling too difficult to handle. They were folded in just 27.4 overs and the highest score was 21 that was scored by opener Tamim Iqbal. It was Mitchell Johnson, who was the most difficult bowler to face for most of the batsmen, his pacy stuff transformed into figures of 6-1-10-2. The match was finished by all rounder Cameron White, who got three wickets with his legspin. Michael Hussey was named as the Man of the Match. The remaining two games are also to be played at this Marrara Cricket Ground in Darwin.