CAPE TOWN, Sept 16: Fast bowler Brett Lee took the first hat-trick in 20-overs internationals as Australia crushed Bangladesh by nine wickets in their World Twenty20 Super Eights match at Newlands on Sunday.

Bangladesh were restricted to 123 for nine after being sent in. Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden hammered a quickfire opening partnership as Australia won with 6.1 overs to spare.

It was a ruthless, relentless performance by the World Cup and Test champions that made their defeat by lowly Zimbabwe last Wednesday seem a distant memory.

“The last two games have been pretty impressive,” said Australian captain Ricky Ponting of the side’s subsequent wins over England and Bangladesh.

He said the only disappointing aspect of Sunday’s win was that his team conceded 19 extras, including 11 wides and five no-balls.

“That could be costly in a tight game,” he said, “but other than that the performances have been pretty complete.”

The Bangladeshis were struggling at 103 for three after 16 overs when Lee came on for his second spell. Aftab Ahmed hit a boundary followed by a single but Lee then had Saqibul Hasan caught behind for 16.

New batsman Mashrafe Mortaza predictably stepped away to try to slog the next ball but was deceived and bowled by a slow yorker. Alok Kapali was trapped on his crease and was out leg before wicket first ball.

Lee finished with three for 27.

He said the nature of Twenty20 cricket was that “if you get the ball in the right spot you can go for six or get a wicket.”

After missing the World Cup because of injury, he said: “The main thing for me is that I’m enjoying being back there playing for Australia.”

In contrast to their tearaway start in their final group match against South Africa on Saturday, the Bangladeshis were unable to get on top against tight bowling and athletic fielding.

Opening batsman Tamim Iqbal made 32 and Aftab Ahmed 31 but they needed 40 and 34 balls respectively in a form of the game where batsmen are expected to score at much better than a run a ball.

There were only nine fours and one six in the innings – fewer boundaries than were hit in the first five overs in Bangladesh’s loss to South Africa the previous evening.

Bangladesh’s slim hopes of defending their small total plunged when Gilchrist survived a difficult chance to slip off Mashrafe off the fourth ball of Australia’s innings before a run had been scored.

In the next over Syed Rasel conceded 14 runs and Australia raced to 50 off 33 balls.

Hayden made off 73 not out off 48 balls with nine fours and three sixes. He reached his half-century off 31 deliveries, while Gilchrist was run out for 43 off 26 balls.

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