David Warner scored an unbeaten 53 from 35 balls

David Warner scored an unbeaten 53 from 35 ballsCredit:Getty Images

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Australia have little time to recover for Afghanistan

The victorious Australians will have little sleep before heading from Antigua to St Vincent for their second Super Eight match against Afghanistan on Sunday morning Australian time.

Rain meant that Australia were not declared winners of their opening Super Eight match against Bangladesh until 12.30am local time on Friday and they left the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium at 2am,just seven before they were due to catch a bus to the airport.

At the after-match presentation captain Mitchell Marsh jokingly answered that “we play tomorrow”,highlighting the tight schedule for the second half of the tournament.

This tight turnaround explains why quality pace trio Pat Cummins,Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood were all rested from matches during the group stage,with Cummins missing two of the four matches after a heavy IPL.

Australia appear to have the soft side of the Super Eights draw,with their first two matches against Bangladesh and Afghanistan. However,Afghanistan had a strong group stage thanks to their spinners and the St Vincent pitch does take turn.

Australia have a heavy schedule.

Australia have a heavy schedule.Credit:AP

Cummins player of the match after hat-trick

Unsurprisingly,Pat Cummins has been named player of the match after claiming a hat-trick,the second Australian to achieve the feat in a T20 international following Brett Lee in 2007.

Spread across two overs,Cummins admitted he didn’t realise he’d taken a hat-trick when he claimed a wicket with the first ball of his fourth over,the last of Bangladesh’s innings.

“I saw it on the screen (at the end of his third over) so I thought ‘oh make sure I’m prepared’. I totally forgot about it until Big Stoin (Marcus Stoinis) came running up,” Cummins said after Australia’s 28-run win by the DLS method after the match was washed out.

He recalled taking “a few” hat-tricks in juniors but none at international level.

“It’s pretty awesome to tick that off,” Cummins said.

Pat Cummins was player of the match after claiming a hat-trick.

Pat Cummins was player of the match after claiming a hat-trick.Credit:AP

Australia ‘flex their muscles’ with strong win over Bangladesh

Daniel Brettig reviews Australia’s big win

Australia,India and England,cricket’s financial “big three”,each flexed their on-field muscle with a trio of thrashings to set the pace in the Super Eights phase of the Twenty20 World Cup.After England crushed West Indies and India did likewise to Afghanistan,it was Australia’s turn in Antigua to do a job on Bangladesh - David Warner,Travis Head and Glenn Maxwell dominated a rain-reduced chase for a vast win,officially by 28 runs on DLS calculations.The victory and its margin should mean the Australians only need to win one of their two remaining games against Afghanistan (Sunday) and India (Monday night) to qualify for the semi-finals.Despite a pair of coaches well versed in the ways of Mitchell Marsh’s team in former New South Wales mentors Chandika Hathurasinghe and Andre Adams,Bangladesh still looked too timid at key moments to present a genuine challenge for Australia.Though Mitchell Starc,Adam Zampa and Pat Cummins all delivered exemplary spells after Marsh chose to bowl first,the Bangladesh innings was characterised by a lack of aggressive intent,as far too many dot balls accrued in a format where bowlers must be put under pressure.

David Warner scored an unbeaten 53 from 35 balls

David Warner scored an unbeaten 53 from 35 ballsCredit:Getty Images

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Australia declared winners after rain delay

Australia have won by 28 runs under the DLS method after rain washed out the remainder of their match against Bangladesh. Australia finished on 2-100 from 11.2 overs in replay to Bangladesh’s 8-140 from their 20 overs. David Warner was unbeaten on 53 from 35 balls and Glenn Maxwell 14 from six balls.

Super Eights summary as rain continues in Antigua

As increasingly heavy rain falls in Antigua,Australia are on course to become the fourth side to win their opening Super Eight match. During the beginning of the second stage,basically the quarter-finals,South Africa beat a spirited USA by 18 runs,England had a high-scoring victory over the West Indies,and India easily accounted for Afghanistan.

With two groups of four,teams can get through to the semi-finals by winning two of their three matches. Australia’s remaining games are against Afghanistan and India.

Australia on course for easy victory despite rain

Even if Australia fail to get back on because of rain they will win easily on the DLS calculations. The DLS par score is currently 72,leaving Australia 28 ahead,having made 30 in the last 14 balls.

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Warner brings up 50 with a six before more rain

David Warner has brought up his second half-century of the T20 World Cup by hammering his third six. His 50 came up in just 34 balls before rain again forced players from the field. Warne was 53 from 35 balls and Glenn Maxwell 14 from 6.

Australia: 2-100 from 11.2 overs requiring 141

David Warner brought up his second 50 of the T20 World Cup with a six.

David Warner brought up his second 50 of the T20 World Cup with a six.Credit:Getty Images

Six to Maxwell as Australia launch again

Glenn Maxwell and David Warner took 13 from the 11th over,delivered by spinner Rishad Hossain,including a flat six from Maxwell wide of mid-on.

Australia: 2-93 from 11 overs needing 141

Marsh out from umpire’s call on review

Mitchell Marsh’s modest T20 World Cup continues. He was out lbw for just one after losing a review. Umpire Richard Illingworth gave Marsh out when he missed a sweep from left-spinner Rishad Hossain and was hit on the pad. Marsh reviewed but the DRS tracking showed the ball hitting leg stump. He has a top score of 35 from five matches.

Australia: 2-70 from 9 overs needing 141.

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Head out as Bangladesh claim first wicket

Three balls after returning from a rain delay Travis Head has been bowled by spinner Rishad Hossain for 31 from 21 balls playing a half-hearted shot with an angle bat.

Australia: 1-65 from 7 overs needing 141

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