Australia v Bangladesh World Cup match abandoned due to rain

BRISBANE: Australia´s World Cup clash against Bangladesh in Brisbane on Saturday was abandoned without a ball bowled because of rain.

The washout at the Gabba meant both sides collected a point apiece for a no-result and left them on three each in Pool A, with runaway leaders New Zealand topping the group with six points following three straight wins.

One concern for Australia is that they will now have a long gap between their opening 111-run win over England in Melbourne on February 14 and their next match against fellow co-hosts New Zealand in Auckland on February 28.

The awarded point suits Bangladesh who have lost 18 of their previous 19 one-day international matches against Australia.

Only one other World Cup contest was washed out without a ball bowled and that was back in 1979 in the game between Sri Lanka and West Indies at The Oval.

Australia captain Michael Clarke had been set to play on Saturday after missing the co-hosts´ opening 111-run win over England in Melbourne last weekend as he continued to recover from his long-standing hamstring injury.