Brad Haddin has not played a single T20I since 2014. Haddin is not considered a big name when it comes to Indian premier League (IPL). But, on September 18, Haddin showed his Australia Legends captain Shane Watson that he should have been handed a longer rope in the T20Is by a sensational big-hitting display against Bangladesh Legends to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in the ongoing Road Safety World Series T20 2022.
Chasing a not-so-threatening total of 159, opener Watson attacked right from the start. He scored 35 runs from 21 deliveries including six fours and one six. The all-rounder used the powerplay overs well despite Cameron White getting out in the first over. It was Elias Sunny who got the big wicket and pushed the Aussies on the back foot.
Callum Ferguson became a victim of Sunny as well after scoring 24 runs. In the middle overs, Bangladesh bowlers made a comeback and stopped the flow of boundaries. Nathan Reardon (3) and Brad Hodge (4) struggled to even rotate the strike and surrendered their wicket to Sunny. The Bangladesh left-arm spinner finished his four-over spell with four wickets and conceded just four runs.
In the 13th over, Australia had lost half of their side with 69 more runs to win. Haddin was still new to the crease. He tried to stitch a partnership but George Horlin (7) and John Hastings (6) were not up to the task. The wicketkeeper-batter hit a few boundaries but the required run rate kept climbing up.
In the last over, Australia needed 21 runs to win the game. Abul Hasan was given the job to defend 21 runs. He started off with a dot delivery. With 21 needed off next five deliveries, Haddin went all in and hit a six off the second ball. Hasan then made the mistake of bowling a no ball. Haddin and Brett Lee ran two runs to get the set batter on strike. Hasan followed it up with another dot ball but Haddin hit a hat-trick of fours to stun Bangladesh as fans at Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore were sent into a frenzy. Haddin remained unbeaten for 58 off 37 deliveries. His match-winning knock was laced with three fours and four sixes.
In the first innings, Bangladesh's top order collapsed. Dirk Nannes got Mehrab Hossain's wicket whereas Lee got Nazimuddin's wicket for a three-ball duck whereas Aftab Ahmed got run out. Bangladesh middle-order batters did not score at a great strike rate but the number of extras, especially wides let them down.
No Bangladesh batter could get going. Alok Kapali and Nazmus Sadat scored 20 runs each. With the bat as well, it was Sunny who helped Bangladesh post a fighting total. He scored an unbaten 32 off 29 deliveries including two fours and one six. Down the order, skipper Mohammad Sharif (14) and Dolar Mahmud (17) helped Bangladesh reach 158/9.
