With a massive win over Bangladesh, Australia gave a big boost to their chances of making it to the semifinals on Day 13 of the T20 World Cup.

Game 21

Australia 72 for 2 (Finch 40, Shoriful 1/9) beat Bangladesh 73 all out (Zampa 5/19, Hazlewood 2/8, Starc 2/21) by 8 wickets.

Being bowled out in a T20 game is embarrassing for an international side. Being bowled out twice in two games (84 against South Africa and 72 against Australia) for well under a hundred is shocking. Bangladesh played in their first World Cup in 1999 and was granted full ICC membership in the year 2000, but their performances at the international level have been really mediocre. Recently Bangladesh hosted two series at home before the start of the T20 World Cup. First they beat Australia 4-1 and then New Zealand 3-2 on slow and low rank turners but their listless performance at the T20 World Cup tells us not to take those series wins too seriously.

Australia won the toss and inserted Bangladesh in on a decent Dubai surface. Both opening bowlers Mitchell Starc (2/21) and Josh Hazlewood (2/8) bowled beautifully and picked up wickets in their first overs. Leg spinner Adam Zampa (man of the match) finished off what the fast bowlers started by bagging a maiden 5 wicket haul in T20 internationals and none of the Bangladeshi batters made any noteworthy contributions. The suffering was over at the end of the 15^th over when Bangladesh were all out for 73.

To get above South Africa in the points table Australia needed to get the target in 8.2 overs so it was no surprise when their openers David Warner and Aaron Finch came out all guns blazing. Although both of them lost their wickets in the search for quick runs they ensured that Australia got to the target in 6.2 overs. With England already in the semis from this group it looks likely that either Australia or South Africa will be joining them.

Game 22

Sri Lanka 189 for 3 (Asalanka 68, Nissanka 51, Russell 2/33) beat West Indies 169 for 8 (Hetmyer 81*, Pooran 46, Hasaranga 2/19) by 20 runs.

In order to keep their semifinal hopes alive defending champions West Indies had to win this game. Asked to bat first after losing the toss, Sri Lanka got off to a decent start. Out of form opener Kusal Perera finally found some rhythm in making 29. Once he was dismissed Sri Lanka’s batting heroes of the tournament Pathum Nissanka and Charith Asalanka got together and put on a partnership of 91 in just 61 deliveries. No West Indian bowler was spared. On Nissanka’s departure for 51 captain Dasun Shanaka promoted himself up the order and continued the onslaught. Man of the match Asalanka made 68 from just 41 balls and Sri Lanka piled on 189 in their 20 overs.

Although the West Indians lost 3 wickets in the power play, they managed to keep scoring runs at a decent pace thanks to the big hitting Nicholas Pooran. And when he was joined by Shimron Hetmyer for a brief period it looked as if the defending champions had the run chase under control. But Pooran’s dismissal saw a flurry of wickets and Hetmyer was left alone to fight a losing battle. He tried his best till the end and remained unbeaten on 81* from just 54 deliveries with 8 fours and 4 massive sixes but his efforts were not enough on the night. The Sri Lankan spinners Wanindu Hasaranga 2/19 and Maheesh Theekshana 0/21 once again put a brake on the West Indian scoring and ensured that Sri Lanka won the match comfortably by 20 runs. Both teams can no longer make it to the semifinals.