Cairns (Australia), Aug 03: Australian batsman Damien Martyn narrowly missed a place in the limited-overs record books to lead his side to a nine-wicket win today over Bangladesh in the second of a three-match series. Australia made 148-1 in 20.2 overs after bowling out Bangladesh for 148.
Martyn finished on 92 not out off 51 balls. If he had been able to reach his century it almost certainly would have been one of the fastest in one-day history.
Shahid Afridi of Pakistan holds top spot with a 37-ball century. Brian Lara (45 balls) and Sanath Jayasuriya (48 balls) are the next fastest and the fourth fastest is off 62 balls by India's Mohammad Azharuddin. When Australia needed 10 runs to win, Martyn was on 90 from 43 balls but off strike.
Michael Bevan (40 not out) ruined any chance of Martyn making history when he straight hit Sanwar Hossain for successive boundaries in the 19th over to bring Australia to within two runs of victory.
Earlier, Australia bowled out Bangladesh for 147 in 45.1 overs with Darren Lehmann, in his 100th one-day international, claiming 3-16. Brad Hogg took 3-31 as the left-arm spinners dominated the Bangladeshis. The success of the two left-arm spinners was in contrast to the fast bowler's success in the opening one-dayer yesterday, where the quicks took nine wickets in an eight-wicket win.
Bangladesh, batting after winning the toss, showed more batting resolve than in the opening hour of yesterday's first match when it lost five wickets for 33 runs.
Openers Hannan Sarkar (19 off 44 balls) and Javed Omar (11 off 52) put on 37 for the first wicket before Hannan chased a wide ball from Harvey and was caught behind by Adam Gilchrist.
The final match of the series is scheduled for Wednesday in Darwin. Bureau Report