BAN VS AUS - 4th T20I, Australia tour of Bangladesh, 2021

Another close game has to come to an end and this time Australia have managed to pull one back. Shakib's off day at the office was the major difference. He has been fantastic with his cameos in this series but today failed to get it off the square in his sleep inducing 26-ball 15 today. With the ball, it was total carnage as Dan Christian took him apart. Dan then carted the southpaw all around the park and hit him for five sixes in an over. Shakib ended up conceding 50 runs off his 4 overs. That kind of sealed the deal for Australia. And Just to put things in context, the other 15 overs went for 55. Australia once again were pushed to the corner but managed to escape unhurt. That isn't the end of the ordeal though as their batting stocks refuse to rise up. They will have one more chance. And this is our chance to exit. This is Kumar Abhisekh Das whisking away in the company of MS Ramakrishnan and Venky!

Matthew Wade: We have worked hard in the last few games and haven't had the results. The way Dan (Christian) played, it can be the difference between winning and losing games. We spoke about it in the morning. We talked about finding runs at the top. We knew he is a terrific hitter from ball one. It would have been nice to get some runs from a few players including me. Don't think too many of us are batting badly as well. We have one more game to go. The quick 40s have decided the fate of the games here. We might play three spinners if needed in the next game.

Mitchell Swepson | Player of the Match: Definitely nice to get the nod to play. Certainly don't get these conditions back home. I think on a wicket like this, I was finding it hard to get my straighter one going. Was lucky to get these wickets as I tried to vary my pace. I completely forgot I was on a hattrick. But he got some bat on it and it was a good ball.

Mahmudullah: It was always difficult to chase. We didn't analyze the wicket well. It was a 120 wicket. We were 10-15 short. The bowlers did a very good job. As a batting unit, we needed to be cautious and sensible. Tonight's wicket was the toughest to bat on. We need to look forward and maximize our batting order. Shakib's over was the crucial one. Dan Christian changed the scenario. It can happen in a T20 game. Shakib though is a champion bowler. I had to keep two overs of Mustafizur for the end. The batters didn't put their hands up.

21:17 Local Time, 15:17 GMT, 20:47 IST: Australia have managed to avert some ignominy. They have pulled one back. It is 1-3 for them now. And now when you look back in hindsight, those five sixes in an over from Dan Christian look huge in the context of the game. Shakib had an off day as he alone conceded almost half the runs in his four overs. Else, even 105 would have had Australia in enough trouble. The wicket was supposed to play better and when Christian was operating, it seemed so as well. Bangladesh had their moments as well and credit to them to take the game so deep. They had an ordinary day with the bat and that was the prime reason why they were derailed today. None of their batters looked set and it was Mahedi's cameo which helped them bargain a triple digit score.

Mustafizur to Tye, 1 run, Australia have won. A hard fought win while chasing 105. Tye tapped it out into the off-side and scampered through for a single to avoid Australia some embarrassment

Mustafizur to Tye, no run, beaten outside off as the slower cutter went across the right hander who tried to force it away

Mustafizur to Tye, no run, fuller, wider, Tye throws his bat at it and misses

Mustafizur to Tye, 2 runs, scores are level! That went off the top-edge on the pull and the ball landed well short of the man at long leg. The bowler was on his haunches. Had that gone to a fielder, things could have again turned a little

Mustafizur to Tye, no run, jabs the back of a length delivery into the off-side and looks for a single. Turner was sent back and luckily the throw came in at the batter's end

The Fizz needs to deliver a miracle now to turn this around. May be a hattrick! 3 needed now off 11 balls

Mustafizur to Turner, 1 run, squeezes the fuller, wide ball past point for a single

Shoriful Islam to Turner, 1 run, looks to go big but pulled the trigger a little too early for the ball to bobble away to long-off off the cue-end of the bat

Shoriful Islam to Tye, 1 run, pulls the ball down and the man at mid-on dives to stop it

Shoriful Islam to Tye, no run, keeps that out and another dot ball adds to the little bit of drama that might unfold

Andrew Tye, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Shoriful Islam to Agar, out Caught by Shamim Hossain!! Wow! That's a superb take. Agar slams it hard but the man at mid-on dives full length to his right and takes a stunner. Superb catch to dismiss Agar, who was playing so well and may be wanted to finish it in this over. But he is gone and Australia's wait continues. Agar c Shamim Hossain b Shoriful Islam 27(27) [4s-2 6s-1]

Shoriful Islam to Agar, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Shoriful Islam to Agar, no run, short ball, outside off and has been chopped away to the man at point

Shoriful Islam to Agar, FOUR, hangs back and slams the ball past cover for a four! That was short, Agar stayed back and placed it well enough to beat the man at deep cover. Australia are a shot away from avoiding some ignominy