Hussey hurries Australia into World Cup super eights

ENGLAND will play Pakistan in the opening game of the ICC World Twenty20 Super Eights tomorrow after Australia's win over Bangladesh eased the defending champions' passage to the next stage.

Pakistan had faced elimination if Bangladesh beat Australia with a high enough run-rate but early wickets ended their chances after they had restricted their opponents to a total of 141 for seven.

In the end Michael Hussey's fine 47 off 29 balls proved decisive as Bangladesh crumbled in their run-chase, Shakib Al Hasan top-scoring on 28 and Dirk Nannes (four for 18) doing the damage as they crumbled to 114 all out, handing Australia victory by 27 runs.

Bangladesh had set about their task in Bridgetown, Barbados with aplomb, with Aftab Ahmed catching Shane Watson on four in the third over and fellow opener David Warner in the next.

The bowlers maintained their ascendancy to peg Australia back to a mere 54 for four by the halfway stage, Michael Clarke becoming the fourth wicket after a careful 16 when he lofted Mohammad Ashraful to Jahurul Islam on 16. But while his team-mates continued to fall Hussey stepped in at number seven to steady nerves, taking control after a careful start and slamming a six off Mortaza in a 17th over which ultimately cost the underdogs 17.

As Australia continued to belatedly open up, Steven Smith hit two sixes off Abdur Razzak in the penultimate over before being run out in the final ball of the innings having compiled a precious 27.

Bangladesh lost Imrul Kayes in the opening over as Shaun Tait deceived him with a slower ball which was claimed by David Hussey at mid on.

Nannes claimed two wickets in three balls by removing Aftab Ahmed (one) and Mahmudullah (two) as Bangladesh were reduced to 15 for four inside four overs and found themselves chasing the game.

Shakib led the recovery before being removed by a superb Michael Hussey catch at deep square leg off the bowling of Steven Smith.

Mushfiqur Rahim's innings of 24 then came to an end when Michael Hussey took the catch off the bowling of his brother David as Bangladesh fell to 81 for seven.

It was only a matter of time and Smith bowled Shafiul Islam for 16, Jahurul Islam became Nannes' fourth victim and Ryan Harris flattened Mashrafe Mortaza's off-stump to round off what proved to be a comfortable victory for Australia.