Watson smashes record 15 sixes to power Australia to easy victory

Watson broke the world record for most sixes in an ODI innings,set at 12 by West Indies’ Xavier Marshall and also broke Matthew Hayden’s record of 181 as the highest ODI score by an Australian.

Chasing Bangladesh’s 229-7 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium,Watson and former skipper Ricky Ponting took Australia to 232-1 in just 26 overs to secure victory.

After the match,Watson said: “It is one of those days when everything works out and luck played a part too. I was not aware of the world record. I just did not want to run too much. After getting to a hundred we just thought of limiting the running and hit a few boundaries. When there is not too much bounce or turn,it is easier to execute the big shots. Opening has been the best thing to happen to me,in Test cricket too. You get to face the best bowlers.”

The Australian all-rounder revealed that he decided to hit out because he was tired.

The stifling humidity in Dhaka prompted his extraordinary attack,he said.

Earlier,Mushfiqur Rahim and Shahriar Nafees scored half centuries Monday as Bangladesh reached 229 for seven.

Rahim led the scoring with an unbeaten 81 from 80 balls,containing nine boundaries and a six,after going to the crease with Bangladesh in serious trouble at 65-4 after winning the toss and batting. Nafees contributed 56 from 68 balls before he was caught-and-bowled by Steve Smith.

Mitchell Johnson took 3-54 to lead the Australian attack,with Smith claiming 2-34.

Bangladesh’s openers were dismissed cheaply. Tamim Iqbal (5) was caught at slip by Shane Watson off Johnson. The same Australian pair combined to remove Imrul Kayes. Johnson also claimed Sohrawardy Shuvo (16),caught by Smith.

Rahim and Mahmudullah steadied the Bangladesh innings by adding 79 runs for the sixth wicket before Mahmuduallah was trapped lbw by Watson for 38.

Bangladesh made one change to the lineup which lost the series-opening match by 60 runs,bringing in Rubel Hossain for fast bowler Mashrafe bin Mortaza.

Australia replaced Cameron White with Callum Ferguson for the second game of the three-match series.

The series is the first for both countries since their disappointing World Cup campaigns.

Bangladesh lost to the West Indies and South Africa and failed to advance out of the group stage. Australia,the three-time defending champion,crashed out in the quarterfinals for its worst tournament result in 19 years.

Ricky Ponting resigned as test and ODI skipper following the World Cup,but agreed to continue to playing under new captain Michael Clarke.