Australia’s hat-trick hero, Pat Cummins, revealed that he was unaware of his remarkable achievement against Bangladesh in Antigua on Friday, June 21, until it flashed on the big screen. Cummins, returning to the lineup after a rest, demonstrated his fine form by becoming the second Australian bowler to secure a hat-trick in T20 World Cups, following the legendary Brett Lee.
Cummins initiated his hat-trick by dismissing Mahmudullah and Mahedi Hasan in the 18th over. He then completed the feat with the first ball of the final over by taking the wicket of Towhid Hridoy. Cummins’ stellar performance was instrumental in restricting Bangladesh to a total of 140 runs. Australia, buoyed by David Warner’s 53, secured a 28-run victory via the DLS method in a match affected by rain.
During the post-match presentation, Pat Cummins expressed his satisfaction with dismissing Hridoy, who was well-set at the crease, thus preventing Bangladesh from posting a more formidable total.
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“I had no idea about the hat-trick until I saw it on the screen. Getting Hridoy out was crucial as he was playing well, and it was vital to restrict them to 140,” Pat Cummins stated.
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He also spoke about the strength and depth of the Australian bench, highlighting players like Nathan Ellis and Ashton Agar, who are ready to step in. Cummins praised the team’s polished performance against Bangladesh, emphasizing their primary goal of winning and improving their net run-rate to build momentum for the Super 8s.
“Agar and Ellis waiting on the bench show our bowling depth. It was a polished performance; our goal was to win and improve our run-rate, and we achieved both. We need to maintain this momentum as we head into the Super 8s,” Pat Cummins added.
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This victory propelled Australia to the top of Group 1, ahead of India based on net run-rate. Their next challenge is set against Afghanistan on June 22, where they aim to continue their winning streak and solidify their position in the tournament.
