Australia win to complete three-game victory over improving Bangladesh

Published on Saturday 6 September 2008 20:04

AUSTRALIA beat Bangladesh by 73 runs to complete a 3-0 sweep of their limited-overs series in Darwin. The world champions posted a modest total of 198 for five from their 50 overs but sealed a comfortable victory by bowling out Bangladesh for 125 in the 30th over.

Mike Hussey, who was named player of the series, top scored for the Australians with an unbeaten 57 while opener Shaun Marsh made 30 after scoring half-centuries in the previous two matches.

"It was closer than the first two games but our mindset was to win this game," Australia's acting captain Michael Clarke said.

Bangladesh, thrashed in the two previous matches, produced easily their best performance of the series, briefly threatening an upset when they reached 82-3 on the back of Tamim Iqbal's half-century.

The teenage opener made 63 off 69 balls, featuring five fours and a six, but received little support from his team-mates as only two other players made double figures.

He threw his wicket away when he started running out of partners. "I shouldn't have played that shot and should have carried on the innings," he said. "The result would be different if I'd carried out the innings."

Bangladesh coach Jamie Siddons was pleased with the progress of his bowlers but said the batting needed drastic improvement to challenge the best teams. "A couple of guys are believing, but there's a few who aren't, that it requires hard work to make a big score."