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If you are not an avid cricket fan in Australia, you may have overlooked the fact that Bangladesh is currently a strong team. They have a good record of winning at home, and they have also been consistently successful in 50-over matches while playing away. However, their performance in this World Cup has been disappointing compared to their usual standards. They only managed to secure one win early on against Afghanistan, which then gave them confidence. Towards the end, they were able to secure another win against Sri Lanka when they were no longer in contention. However, they suffered five consecutive losses, with scores of 142 and 256 in between, making their overall performance subpar.

During the game in Pune on Saturday, Australia’s final group match resulted in a surprising concession of 306 runs. This outcome did not impact their semi-final standings, but it was unexpected nonetheless. Mitchell Marsh’s powerful and lively performance, nicknamed the “Marshmallow Man,” dominated the field and ended with an impressive 177 not out, ending the game on a sweet note.

Marsh quickly stopped by his house to say goodbye to his grandfather. He mentioned, “I believe my grandmother, mother, and relatives are observing from home, and I hope it brought them joy.” He added, “My grandfather was an incredible individual and his life was honored yesterday afternoon. I’m sure they also had a few drinks to celebrate.”

In one-day international matches, there have been 10 instances of higher scores being achieved during a chase. The highest score was 201 not out by Glenn Maxwell in Australia’s previous match. While Maxwell’s performance was seen as miraculous, Shaun Marsh’s at first drop seemed more expected. He was supported by David Warner and Steve Smith in back-to-back partnerships worth 100 runs each, without any major alarms.

However, despite the positive atmosphere in the second half of the game, the first half was not a promising indication for Australia in the World Cup. Their opening bowlers have been struggling, giving opposing teams the opportunity to make strong starts in the first 20-30 overs. At the halfway point, Bangladesh had already reached 170 for two and were on track to score closer to 350 than their final score. Even Marsh would have had difficulty defending against that.

Earlier in the game, Afghanistan was at a score of 172 for two against Australia and almost reached 300. England, with a score of 102 for two, was also in the running for a mid-range chase. New Zealand came close to chasing 389 with a score of 168 for two. Pakistan was at 175 for two just after the halfway mark, while Sri Lanka also had a similar score of 165 for two at that point. South Africa, who will be facing them in the semifinals, had a score of 197 for two. India, who is likely to be in the finals, reached 167 for three before reaching their small target.

Mitchell Starc was given a break during the match against Bangladesh because he had only taken early wickets in two out of his eight games. However, the change in strategy of having Pat Cummins start with the new ball and Sean Abbott as first change did not have much impact. Despite this, Australia’s strong bowling and high scoring in the later overs has allowed them to win seven consecutive matches in the group stage. However, in the knockout rounds, they may face challenges from strong batting teams who could exploit their tendency for weaker early performances.

Unfortunately, there was another unexpected turn of events, but this time it worked in Australia’s favor. Marnus Labuschagne, who was initially supposed to lead Australia A, ended up playing in every game. This decision was made two months ago when selectors deemed him too inconsistent for the World Cup. However, since then, a series of remarkable events has occurred.

Initially, Smith suffered a wrist injury, creating an opportunity for Labuschagne to join the South Africa warm-up tour. Later, he replaced Cameron Green as a concussion substitute and performed well in two innings. Additionally, Ashton Agar’s calf injury allowed him to secure a spot in the squad, and Travis Head’s return from a hand injury provided him with the chance to play in several potential matches.

Selectors could have opted for two players who are skilled in both batting and bowling, however Marcus Stoinis injured his calf. Travis Head may have been able to make a comeback for the fifth game against the Netherlands, but his return was delayed by a week. Australia narrowly avoided having only five bowling options against New Zealand, so Cameron Green was brought back in for the game against England. Unfortunately, Mitchell Marsh had to leave the team to be with his family. While Marsh returned to play against Afghanistan, Steve Smith was unable to play due to an episode of vertigo. When Smith was able to play against Bangladesh, Glenn Maxwell was given a break after his impressive double century performance.

Labuschagne has consistently found himself in situations where he is facing potential elimination, but fate always seems to step in. Despite this, he has become an incredibly valuable fielder for Australia. In a crucial moment during the game against New Zealand, his impressive save at the boundary may have been the deciding factor in their victory. And against Bangladesh, he not only made two run-outs, but also showed off his speed and accuracy in throwing from various positions on the field, reminiscent of his South African roots.

The attempts successfully removed Mahmudullah, who was Bangladesh’s standout player, and Najmul Hossain Shanto, their most promising young talent. As Labuschagne continues to make valuable contributions, Smith’s unbeaten 63 in the match may have been crucial for both himself and coincidentally prevented Labuschagne from batting. With Maxwell set to come back for the semi-final, the decision of who will be replaced is not as straightforward as before.

Source: theguardian.com