‘First fifer is always a nice feeling’

Even though Australia dominated on all fronts in their latest encounter against Bangladesh, it was the leg-spinner Adam Zampa who stood out for the Aussies, leading them to a resounding eight-wicket victory over the Tigers in their latest Super 12 contest in Dubai on Thursday.

Despite having displayed an average performance against Bangladesh in the T20I series in August in Mirpur, in which he collected five wickets in four matches, Zampa ended up scalping his first fifer of his T20I career and in the process, skittled out Bangladesh for 73 in 15 overs.

"First fifer is always a nice feeling," Zampa said while receiving the player-of-the-match award at the post-match ceremony. "Playing for 5-6 overs and nice to get one [fifer]," he added.

However, the 29-year-old leggie could have achieved another landmark in his career, if Mathew Wade did not spill Taskin's catch on the first ball of the 15th over. Zampa was on the verge of his maiden T20I hat-trick as he grabbed wickets of Shamim Hossain and Mahedi Hasan in the last two deliveries of his previous over.

"I had three overs between that ball and the next one; I don't know if anybody else knew." Zampa said on his hat-trick opportunity, "But I think I wouldn't have had as many wickets as I do had it not been for Wadey's hands."

Zampa also voiced his role as a wrist-spinner in the middle overs while giving credit to his bowling attack in the powerplay.

"I think the quicks have been quite difficult to score off in the powerplay. Guys like Maxwell [Glenn] have also bowled really well", Zampa added. "Teams are coming harder during the middle overs, so that gives wicket-taking opportunities for guys like Adil Rashid and me," he added.

In absence of left-arm spinner Ashton Agar, Zampa was the only spin specialist against Bangladesh. However, the responsibility didn't intimidate the leg-spinner in the game.

"It does change my role a little bit, but I don't feel any extra pressure even when Ashton plays. My job is to take wickets through the middle, and that doesn't change."

Australia skipper Aaron Finch praised his leggie's performance, during the post-match ceremony. "Zampa's 5 for 19 was outstanding; to get wickets through the middle against some really good players, the spin is really crucial for us," Finch stated.

Australia and South Africa are vying to grab the second semi-final spot from Group I, behind leaders England, and Aaron Finch's team needed a net run-rate boost to go with a victory and their bowlers rose to the occasion. The Aussies are now second in the Group 1 table with six points as their net run-rate has accumulated to +1.031.