Pat Cummins makes history with T20 World Cup hat-trick against Bangladesh
Antigua: Pat Cummins created history in the T20 World Cup by claiming a hat-trick during Australia’s Super Eight clash against Bangladesh in Antigua. Cummins took the wickets of Mahmudullah, Mahedi Hasan, and Towhid Hridoy in consecutive deliveries over two overs at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua. His impressive performance helped Australia restrict Bangladesh to 140-8.
Cummins, who was restored to the starting line-up, finished with figures of 3-29 off four overs. He became only the second Australian, and the seventh bowler overall, to achieve a hat-trick in T20 World Cup history. Spinner Adam Zampa also shone, taking 2-24.
In addition to Cummins' milestone, Mitchell Starc became the most prolific bowler in white-ball cricket history, securing his 95th World Cup wicket by trapping Tanzid Hasan in the opening over. Starc surpassed Sri Lanka’s Lasith Malinga, setting a strong tone for Australia’s bowlers after captain Mitchell Marsh won the toss and chose to bowl.
Australia’s disciplined bowling attack kept Bangladesh on the back foot. Josh Hazlewood opened his spell with a maiden over, while Starc's tight bowling allowed only eight runs in the first three overs. Although Najmul Hossain Shanto and Litton Das briefly boosted the run rate, the introduction of Zampa and Cummins' lethal spell halted Bangladesh's momentum.
Zampa dismissed Das in the ninth over, leaving Bangladesh at 58-2. Glenn Maxwell then removed Rishad Hossain in the 10th over, and Shanto's dismissal for 41 in the 13th over further slowed the Bangladesh innings. Cummins' hat-trick in the later stages dismantled the lower order, setting Australia a target of 141 to win.
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Rain washes out Super Eights match between New Zealand and Pakistan
Pallekele (Sri Lanka) (PTI): New Zealand and Pakistan shared a point after incessant rain forced the abandonment of the opening T20 World Cup Group 2 Super Eights match here on Saturday.
Amid a slight drizzle, Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first.
But the steady droplets soon transformed into relentless pouring, forcing the officials to call off the match without a ball being bowled.
Before the skies opened up, Pakistan made one change to their eleven, bringing in Fakhar Zaman in place of Khawaja Nafay.
New Zealand made three changes with skipper Mitchell Santner back after missing the last match against Canada due to a stomach issue and Lockie Ferguson and Ish Sodhi also found a place in the XI.
But all those calculations and combinations will have to wait for another day, as Pakistan will now face England here on February 24.
New Zealand will make a light travel to Colombo to face home side Sri Lanka on February 25.
The washout has also placed both the Kiwis and Pakistan in a relatively tighter place ahead of their remaining two Super Eights matches.
A similar result in any of the following matches, a possibility considering Sri Lanka’s weather pattern, or a defeat can put their semifinal ambitions in serious jeopardy.
