CAIRNS (Australia), Aug 2: Bangladesh wicket-keeper Khaled Mashud had a thumb shattered by Brett Lee as world champions Australia handed out another lesson to the cricketing minnows here on Saturday.

Mashud — ruled out of the next two games in the three-match one-day series — was struck by the world’s fastest bowler as the international newcomers sank to an eight-wicket thrashing in the opening clash.

After routing Bangladesh for a mere 105 in only 34 of their allotted 50 overs, Australia romped home in just 22.3 overs, finishing with 107 for two wickets at Bundaberg Stadium.

A sell-out crowd of 8,308 in the picturesque ground saw the home country maintain their dominance over the visitors after crushing them by an innings in each game of a two-match Test series over the past two weeks.

With Lee producing withering pace — even though he claimed he was not aiming for exceptional speed, the match ended more than two and a half hours early, leaving sections of the crowd unhappy.

Some spectators, fearful of a Bangladesh batting failure, booed after Australian captain Ricky Ponting won the toss and sent Bangladesh in.

They had hoped the home team would bat first, giving them the opportunity to see the world’s top side flexing their stroke-making muscles for a full 50 overs.

Spectators’ concerns were justified as speedsters Lee and Jason Gillespie teamed up to destroy the Bangladesh innings.

Lee (4-25) and Gillespie (3-23) had too much pace and guile for the inexperienced tourists, who never threatened to make a competitive score.

Mashud becomes the sixth player to be sidelined after being injured by the hostile Lee in recent times.

During World Cup matches earlier this year, Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya had a thumb fractured by the Australian and Kenya’s Kennedy Obuya suffered a broken elbow.

Last summer Lee poleaxed England’s Alex Tudor during the third Test of the Ashes series in Perth, sending the fast bowler to hospital for stitches above an eye.

During the 2001 Ashes tour in England, Lee struck Graham Thorpe, breaking a finger.

In 1999 he broke former Test fast bowler Jo Angel’s arm with a thunderbolt at the WACA Ground in Perth during a Sheffield Shield game.

Chasing a small total on Saturday, the Australian batsmen cruised to victory with only big-hitting left-hander Adam Gilchrist (18) and Ponting (29) falling as the runs were knocked off at a rate of almost five an over.

Matthew Hayden finished with an unbeaten 46 (seven fours) from 58 balls.

Fast bowler Mashrafe Mortaza dismissed Gilchrist in the fifth over.

Australia were only three runs short of their target when Ponting was out after a 65-ball knock. The powerful right-hander was bowled by spinner Mohammad Rafique as he attempted a big hit to end the game.

In the Bangladesh innings, Lee and Gillespie, well supported by Andy Bichel (2-24), made good use of a lively pitch.

In a woeful batting exhibition against a quality attack, Bangladesh were given a spark of hope only by Tushar Imran, who clubbed 28 from 33 balls, with five crisp boundaries.

Scoreboard

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