Marsh special takes Aussies to easy win, extends streak

Bangladesh's biggest Cup total wasn't enough but gives them a good chance to secure a berth in Champions Trophy

With India so often at the receiving end against Australia, until at least a decade ago, the home crowds have become habituated to not being in the Aussie corner. It was difficult to say if the 19,000 strong Pune crowd had turned all Australian, but they had certainly lapped up all the yellow jerseys on sale outside the stadium.

Due to a lack of options, all of them had picked up 'Warner 31' but given how the match panned out, they should have surely sold more of Mitchell Marsh's No 8s. The tall all-rounder, who goes by the nickname of Bison, gave the Saturday crowd many reasons to cheer with his towering innings of 177 (132b,17x4,9x6).

Warner, in prolific form, all through the World Cup, stroked a business-as-usual half century. The Warner-March opening partnership separated by Travis Head's entry, made maximum impact, this time for the 2nd wicket with their 120-run stand to set up Australia's 8-wicket win.

Australia, however, did not learn anything new about their game from this inconsequential tie before the semi-final. The five-time title holders bowled first under the afternoon sun, perhaps to throw their pacers a challenge to pick up WORL their Powerplay game. Having third worst returns in the tournament so far, they again went wicketless as Bangladesh raced to 62/0 in the first ten.