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With their tournament already over, Australia have sunk to new lows with an embarrassing 73-run thrashing at the hands of India to remain winless in the World Twenty20.
After opening the group stage with losses to Pakistan and the West Indies, Australia were eliminated from the tournament before a ball was bowled in their clash with India in Dhaka on Sunday.
Pakistan’s victory over Bangladesh, in the match which immediately preceded the Australia-India fixture, removed even the slim mathematical possibility of George Bailey’s men advancing to the semi-finals.
Australia had only pride to play for against T20 powerhouse India – and were given a golden opportunity to save some face when their bowlers produced their best performance of the tournament to restrict India to 7-159.
In reply, however, they fell under the spell of India’s spin kings – a weakness that’s been exposed all tournament – and were bowled out for a dismal 86 with 26 balls remaining.
The loose shot selection, with many poorly timed strikes caught in the deep, gave the impression the team that has taken down all comers this summer was ready for a holiday.
Offspinner Ravi Ashwin was the main threat, taking 4-11, including the wickets of top-order batsmen Aaron Finch (6), David Warner (19) and Glenn Maxwell (23).
Warner threw his wicket away, top-edging a sweep from Ravi Ashwin which was caught on the boundary to end a burgeoning partnership with the in-form Maxwell.
Maxwell was even more wasteful, sending three sixes into the crowd before attempting an unnecessary reverse sweep which collected the top of off stump.
Shane Watson continued his miserable tournament with the bat, bowled for one – to go with scores of two and four.
Earlier, Yuvraj Singh spearheaded the Indian innings.
Despite a horror tournament himself, in which the 32-year-old had scores of 10 and 1, Singh roared back to form with a terrific 60 off 43 that included two sixes off young legspinner James Muirhead.
Singh put on 84 runs with his captain MS Dhoni (24) to lift India’s score after a slow start.
Muirhead, Hodge, Mitchell Starc, Watson, Doug Bollinger and Maxwell all took one wicket each, while Watson also affected a runout in the last over.
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