DUBAI: Spinner Adam Zampa claimed his maiden five-wicket haul to help Australia boost their semi-final hopes at the T20 World Cup with an eight-wicket thrashing of Bangladesh on Thursday.
Australia’s pacers wrecked Bangladesh’s top order before Zampa (5-19) ran amok with the ball to skittle out their opponents for a paltry 73 in 15 overs.
Skipper Aaron Finch, who hit 40, and David Warner put on 58 for the opening wicket as Australia romped home in 6.2 overs to move ahead of South Africa on net run-rate and boost their semi-final hopes.
Taskin Ahmed bowled Finch after the batsman smashed two fours and four sixes in his 20 ball knock, and Warner was out for 18 but the wickets remained minor blemishes in Australia’s third win in four matches.
They are in a direct race with the Proteas to seal a final-four spot from Group 1 led by England who have effectively sealed one of the two semi-final places with four wins in as many games.
Australia must beat West Indies in their final Group I match on Saturday to have any chance of reaching the semi-finals behind group leaders England, who are effectively in the last four after winning all four matches so far. South Africa will play England on Saturday after Australia take on the West Indies.
