Bangladesh rue missed opportunity after falling to Australia’s spin ploy

Bangladesh rue missed opportunity after falling to Australia's spin ploy

Did Bangladesh miss a trick in the T20I series opener against Australia at Chattogram?

Ahead of the first T20I, Australian skipper Mitchell Marsh felt his team had an edge in experience – and that proved the major difference.

The boundary at the Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Cricket Stadium was bigger than usual, and the slow wicket was exploited fully by Australia's spinners. Adam Zampa, armed with extensive subcontinent T20 franchise experience, guided the attack with precision.

The nine wickets taken by Australia's spinners are the most for any Aussie spin attack in a T20I innings, and marked just the second time spinners have taken nine wickets in a T20I innings in Bangladesh.

"It was about communicating how the wicket played. We've never played in Chittagong before… The wicket was a little bit slow, so I was trying to use that to our advantage," said Zampa, who finished with 3-18 and reached 150 T20I wickets.

The spinners bowled Test match-style, flighting the ball to lure batters into playing shots – and Bangladesh couldn't resist.

Bangladesh pace bowling coach Talha Jubair admitted they should have been more patient. "Our Powerplay was excellent – 52 runs in six overs. But from there we could not carry on. Every over, or every two overs, a wicket was falling. We rushed a bit," he said.

"The way we bowled, if there had been another 30-35 runs on our scoreboard, it would not have been so easy for Australia."

Debutant Joel Davies credited Marsh's advice to attack the larger boundaries. "With the wind going against the big boundary, it was Mitch's idea to make me hit them to that big boundary. I got two wickets from that."

With a 1-0 lead, Australia will look to seal the series in the second T20I on Friday (June 19).