Marsh back in form with big ton in Australia triumph

afr.com:

Mitch Marsh has recaptured his form at No.3 with a big century to ensure Australia will go into the World Cup semi-finals on the back of seven straight wins and an eight-wicket victory over Bangladesh.

Marsh plundered an unbeaten 177 from 132 balls on Saturday in Pune, helping Australia pull off their biggest ever World Cup chase as they hauled in Bangladesh’s 8-306 with 32 balls to spare.

The win ensures Australia will enter Thursday’s semi-final against South Africa as one of the competition’s form teams, rebounding from two opening losses to India and the Proteas.

Mitchell Marsh celebrates his century against Bangladesh in Pune. AP

Marsh’s performance will please Australia most against a Bangladesh team that finishes the tournament with a 2-7 record.

The West Australian smashed 121 opening against Pakistan earlier in the tournament, but had recorded scores of nine, 36 and 24 since being forced down to No.3 on Travis Head’s return.

But on Saturday afternoon, this was classic Marsh.

He drove the ball with great power, putting the pressure back on all of Bangladesh’s bowlers and punishing them whenever they strayed on being marginally too full.

Seven of his nine sixes came on the drive, while he also hit 10 of his 17 fours in the same manner.

Marsh was on from the outset, scoring 26 runs from boundaries in his first 11 balls before reaching 50 in 37 deliveries and a century in 87.

“That is the way we want to play our cricket: Me coming in at No.3 and applying pressure,” Marsh said.

“I knew when Heady came back (from injury) I was going to go down to No.3, so the most important thing was to play with that same intent and back myself.

“We probably had a few games where I lost my intent. So it was really good to learn