A Matthew Wade drop behind the stumps has robbed Adam Zampa of a T20 World Cup hat-trick – and the leg-spinner took him to task over it.
But at the end of the Dubai match Australia’s dressing room is a happy one, after they steamrolled Bangladesh by eight wickets and, crucially, gave their net run-rate a massive boost.
Led by Zampa, who captured 5-19, Australia took just 15 overs to skittle Bangladesh for 73 runs.
And needing to chase the total in less than eight overs to overtake South Africa on net run-rate in the group-one pool, Australia accounted for the meagre total in just 6.2 overs.
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Australia and South Africa are now locked on three wins apiece, but the Justin Langer-coached side has a net run-rate of 1.03 and the Proteas only 0.74.
Australia and South Africa are fighting to follow group-one leader England through to the semi-finals, with Australia awaiting a final group-stage match against the West Indies and the Proteas a game against England.
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Captain Aaron Finch peeled off 40 from 20 as he drove Australia’s run chase against Bangladesh, while all-rounder Mitch Marsh produced his own entertaining cameo on his return to the XI, blasting an unbeaten 16 from only five balls.
Zampa’s figures of 5-19 are now the best by an Australia player in T20 World Cup cricket and the best figures yet out of all players at this year’s tournament.
But the Melbourne Stars weapon would have an international hat-trick to his name if Wade hadn’t grassed an edge from Bangladesh batter Taskin Ahmed in the 15th over of his side’s innings.
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“That was my hat-trick ball,” Zampa shouted at Wade from the opposite end of the pitch.
“Yeah, I tried to catch it,” Wade quipped back.
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When asked about the missed opportunity on Fox Cricket after the game, Zampa brushed the drop aside and commended Wade on his keeping during the tournament.
“I think if it wasn’t for Wadey’s hands at the moment I wouldn’t have as many wickets as I’ve been getting,” Zampa said.
“He’s been keeping beautifully well.
“Tough catch.”
Zampa has now taken the most wickets in the super-12 stage, having snared 10 from four games at an average of 8.9.
Before Zampa took 5-19 against Bangladesh, left-arm seamer James Faulkner held the record for best bowling figures by an Australia player at a T20 World Cup, having bagged 5-27 against Pakistan during the 2016 edition.