Every time David Warner steps onto the field, you can almost guarantee he will play with the same passion and intensity. Even after all the controversy that was surrounding him for the last 15 months, he has batted like the David Warner we all know. Taking the game to the opposition and never taking the foot off the accelerator. His 166* off 147 balls yesterday showed us the value that he brings to the Australian side. Even though he looked a bit scratchy in the game against India, he hasn’t let that get to him. Striking at 112.92, he made the Bangladesh’s bowling line up look rather ordinary.
Warner wasn’t the only positive for Australia, with all of their top 4 getting runs. Finch looked steady in his mammoth opening stand with Warner. Khawaja was in supreme touch, even after not clearing the ropes on one occasion, he was striking at 123.61. Maxwell coming in at number 4 was probably the biggest plus point for Australia. He bludgeoned the Bangladesh attack in his cameo of 32 off 10 nuts. His form is crucial if this Aussie side is to go a long way in the tournament.
Even though the team in gold had posted a humongous score of 381 on the board, Bangladesh gave them a bit of a scare with the second wicket partnership of over a 100. But Australia did well to pull back the game in the middle overs, with Stoinis, Starc and Zampa picking crucial wickets through the middle. Shakib, Tamim and Mahmudullah were the pick of the Bangladesh lot, as their team succumbed to 333/8, falling short by 48 runs.
-Vibhor Dubey
The Average Cricketer 