Iqbal, Al Hasan shine, while others fail against Australia

Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan powered Bangaldesh' batting effort against Australia by amassing a 69-run stand for the fourth wicket that helped their side post a respectable 182 in a match that failed to yield a result due to rain at Kennington Oval on Monday.

Bangladesh's captain, Mushfiqur Rahim, won the toss and opted to bat first, but his top order, barring Iqbal, offered little resistance and were reduced to 3 for 53 in 17 overs. Iqbal, at that stage, had managed 28 from 51 balls. With Shakib by his side, Iqbal then lifted the tempo and clubbed Moises Henriques for two fours and a six in the 23rd over. He then struck Travis Head for two consecutive sixes in the 30th, before Shakib departed for a 48-ball 29, an innings with just two fours.

Iqbal, on 68 at that stage, continued holding the innings together and finally departed in the 43rd over for a 114-ball 95, in an innings that included six fours and three sixes. Iqbal and Shakib scored at 5.11 runs an over in the 13.3 overs that they batted together. Australia's top three batsmen put their side on course to record their first win of the competition, but rain interrupted and forced play to be called off, with both side's sharing points.