Reflecting on his achievement during the post-match presentation, Cummins shared his surprise and joy
21 June, 2024
PHOTO: AFP
Australia secured a 28-run victory over Bangladesh via the Duckworth–Lewis–Stern (DLS) method at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound on Friday.
The match, highlighted by Pat Cummins' remarkable hat-trick, saw Australia restrict Bangladesh to a modest total of 140 runs, setting the stage for a commanding chase.
Cummins delivered a game-changing performance by taking three consecutive wickets. His victims, Mahmudullah, Mahedi Hasan, and Towhid Hridoy, were crucial for Bangladesh's batting lineup. This incredible feat marked the first hat-trick of the T20 World Cup 2024 and played a pivotal role in curbing Bangladesh's run tally.
Reflecting on his achievement during the post-match presentation, Cummins shared his surprise and joy.
"I had no idea (on the hat-trick), then saw when it came up on the screen. Set batter in, playing the innings, you never know how it'll go about, so that was a big wicket (on Hridoy's wicket) and happy to have restricted them," Cummins said.
Cummins also emphasized the depth of the Australian bowling attack, which has been bolstered by players like Nathan Ellis and Ashton Agar, both of whom are yet to feature in the Super Eight matches.
"Agar and Ellis have been on the bench for us, that shows the depth we have in the bowling unit. Fairly polished performance, the goal was to win and we did well with the run-rate, we'll need to continue with the momentum going ahead in the Super 8s," he further added.
Australian captain Mitchell Marsh expressed his satisfaction with the team's performance and leadership.
"It was an exciting bowling performance with everyone chipping in. This is a very good playing XI; we spoke before the start to have the team to take us deep into the tournament and have a team based on the conditions and it's going well. I'm loving it (on captaincy), great team to lead, great group filled with experience, the support staff have been excellent and the families are here as well. Have another game tomorrow (against Afghanistan) and we're looking forward to it," Mitchell Marsh said in the post-match presentation ceremony.
Looking ahead, Australia faces a challenging schedule with matches against Afghanistan on Sunday (June 23) and a high-stakes clash against India on Monday (June 24). The team’s strong start and comprehensive victory over Bangladesh place them at the top of Group 1, positioning them as early favorites to advance to the semi-finals.
