Australia vs. Bangladesh: Date, Live Stream, TV Info, Cricket World Cup Preview
Bangladesh and co-hosts Australia will meet for their second 2015 Cricket World Cup matches on Saturday in Brisbane, with both teams carrying an undefeated record going into the match.
Australia recorded a dominant 111-run win over England—Bangladesh followed suit against Afghanistan, crushing their rivals by 105 runs. Both teams look in excellent form and determined to go far in this year's World Cup, so Saturday's match will have plenty of implications.
Group A has incredible depth, with the Baggy Greens and New Zealand favoured to grab the top two spots and the likes of Sri Lanka, England and Afghanistan all liking their chances of joining them in the next round. No team can afford to drop a result, setting up an epic clash between undefeated squads on Saturday. However, the match is currently under the threat of being rained out by an impending cyclone, according to the BBC:
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"Australia's World Cup Pool A match with Bangladesh on Saturday could be called off if a cyclone hovering north of Brisbane hits the city.
Michael Clarke missed the 111-run win over England at the weekend as he continued his recovery from a hamstring injury.
But Cyclone Marcia may also scupper Australia's plan to bring their captain back into the team at the weekend.
Should the fixture be abandoned the two sides could have to share the points.
The storm has already forced evacuations of coastal communities in Queensland and heavy rain is forecast in Brisbane over the next few days.
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All stats courtesy of ESPN Cricinfo.
Date: Saturday, February 21
Time: 1:30 p.m. local/3:30 a.m. GMT
Venue: Brisbane Cricket Ground, Brisbane
TV info and live stream: The official broadcasters of the 2015 Cricket World Cup are Sky Sports (UK) and ESPN (U.S.). Mobile coverage is available via the Sky Go app and Watch ESPN.
Preview
Bangladesh were confident going into their opener against Afghanistan, but even the Tigers were probably shocked at how easily they disposed of their rivals. The target of 267 was solid, but the team completely shut down Afghanistan's batsmen early, turning the match into a virtual walk in the park.
Former Sri Lankan cricketer Russel Arnold was impressed:
The Tigers' bowling was simply magnificent, with Mashrafe Mortaza leading the way. The 31-year-old gave up just 20 runs in nine overs, collecting three wickets along the way for an economy rate of 2.22. Not a single bowler had an economy over five.
It helps bowling with a solid target to protect, and per CricketNDTV, Mushfiqur Rahim reserved special praise for his openers:
Bangladesh can feel good about their big win, but on Saturday, they'll face an altogether different beast. Australia were incredible with the bat against England, and not a single English bowler ended the match with an economy rate under 6.50.
Aaron Finch stole the show with the first century of the tournament, scoring 135, while Glenn Maxwell added 66 runs, including 11 boundaries:
The Aussies managed an incredible 342 runs, setting their bowlers up for an altogether easy innings. Mitchell Marsh shone brightest, taking five wickets in nine overs.
The Baggy Greens look in tremendous form heading into Saturday's clash, with little capable of stopping them. As shared by this fan, a cyclone may do the trick:
The wild weather could throw a wrinkle into preparations for the match and force both sides to alter their tactics.
Bangladesh used a platoon approach and their solid depth to beat Afghanistan, with seven batsmen contributing double-digit runs. The Aussies rode their biggest stars but received good production from just about everyone.
The Baggy Greens are deep and talented with the bat, and while Bangladesh's bowling against Afghanistan was sensational, it's hard to imagine the Tigers containing Finch, Maxwell, David Warner, George Bailey and Marsh in the same innings. Expect an Australian win, setting up a dream rivalry match against New Zealand.
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