He shoved caution to the dogs as he went after everything in a usually strokeful innings.
The maiden T20I fifty was scaled and he put Australia in a position of control despite not kicking on. Bangladesh hit with wickets towards the latter half of the chase but never really threatened to topple the Kangaroos as cameos from Maxwell and Warner took them close enough to the finish line. What didn't help Bangladesh's cause were the dropped chances, missed run-outs, which littered the innings. Being the form team coming into the tournament, it's been a sorry show in the Super 10s.
Adam Zampa was adjudged man of match for his 3-23.Mohammad Mahmudullah was highest scorer for bangladesh with his 49 of just 29 balls (4*7,6*1).
Mortaza's team were also missing Tamim Iqbal due to illness, with Mohammad Mithun moving up the order to replace him. Nathan Coulter-Nile bowled usefully with the new ball and Shane Watson found the knack for wickets at the other end to coax catches from Soumya Sarkar and Sabbir Rahman. Hastings and Marsh were somewhat more expensive, leaving Smith to call on Zampa.
His first wicket was a gift - Mithun arrowing a short ball straight to Watson at deep midwicket - but from there Zampa grew into his spell, and did not buckle when Hom went after him with a towering six followed by another boundary. Next ball he attacked the stumps and won an lbw verdict, and before the spell was over he had also accounted for Shakib, beaten for length and bounce.
From there Smith would have hoped for a modest chase, but Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim found pace more comfortable to deal with than Zampa's spin, and played with some invention to find gaps on the off side and ransack 44 runs from the final three overs of the innings. A target of 157 was at least 20 more runs than Smith would have budgeted for earlier in the evening.
Khawaja and Watson began well, before the allrounder skied a chance and was dropped, but failed to take advantage when he chanced a second run next over and was caught short by Sabbir's excellent return from the deep. While Khawaja purred, Smith spluttered, mixing one straight six with a handful of miscues before finally being bowled between his legs by a Mustafizur delivery that shaped back into him. Missing a ball on that line was most unlike Smith, as other teams will note.
Warner sparkled briefly before Khawaja lost his leg stump, and when the vice-captain punched a full toss straight back to Shakib the equation looked briefly troublesome. Maxwell balanced it out with a few keen blows but his seeming inability to stop himself from making rash decisions led to the stumping and a nervy finish against fumbling opponents. Australia may be on the board, but they are a long way from looking like contenders.
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