Australia vs Bangladesh, T20 World Cup 2016 - as it happened

That's all for our live blog for this afternoon. We hope you enjoyed our coverage of a topsy-turvy game in Bangalore.

Goodbye!

AUSTRALIA WIN BY THREE WICKETS!

Faulkner smashes a short ball to the boundary to seal a crucial win for Steve Smith's men in Bangalore!

Australia 152/7 (18/20 ov)

JW Hastings c Soumya Sarkar b Shakib Al Hasan 3

The over ends with another Australian wicket. They really have made heavy weather of this run chase against a modest bowling attack.

Anyway, they now need from 12 with Faulkner and Nevill together.

GJ Maxwell st †Mushfiqur Rahim b Shakib Al Hasan 26

Another bump in the road for the Aussies! Maxwell goes now as he tries to repeat his heroics from the previous over.

Still, he should have done enough to put Australia out of reach.

Australia 147/5 (17/20 ov)

How does Glenn Maxwell respond to the pressure of a tight run chase? By smashing the ball over the boundary, of course.

The all-rounder blasts two sixes in three balls to all-but kill this game.

MR Marsh c Shakib Al Hasan b Mustafizur Rahman 6

Every time the Aussies appear to be home and hosed...

Mitchell Marsh is the latest man to go this time, after getting a leading edge on a cutter that pops up in the air.

Australia 135/4 (16/20 ov)

That might just be the game-deciding over, with Saqlain Sajib conceding three boundaries in the space of six balls.

The equation is a much more agreeable 22 from 24 balls at the end of the over.

Australia 121/4 (15/20 ov)

With five overs left, this ought to be easy for a side as experienced and as capable as Australia. But pressure does funny things to people.

Australia require another 36 runs with 6 wickets and 30 balls remaining.

DA Warner c & b Shakib Al Hasan 17

Warner goes now! Things are getting interesting in Bangalore, as the powerful left-hander smashes a full-toss back to the bowler, who clings on.

Getting nervous, Aussies?

Australia 119/3 (14/20 ov)

Glenn Maxwell is the new man and he almost perishes first ball. In the end, he does well to drop his wrists.

Just four runs from that over, but the Aussies should still stroll to victory, provided they keep their heads.

UT Khawaja b Al-Amin Hossain 58

The end of a very fine innings from a very fine young player, as Khawaja is bowled around his legs by Al-Amin Hossain. Are Bangladesh still in this...?

Australia need 42 off 41.

Australia 115/2 (13/20 ov)

Davie Warner isn't going to hang around tonight, it seems. The destructive left-hander follows a four with a six to move the Australians to within reach of victory in Bangalore.

Australia 98/2 (12/20 ov)

Four runs and a wicket from that over. Australia are still well-placed but they won't want to lose two quick wickets here, or a sense of panic might set in.

David Warner has come in at number four, by the way...

SPD Smith b Mustafizur Rahman 14

A twist in the tail? Perhaps. Steven Smith has come and gone now, with Mustafizur Rahman following a clever slower ball with a quicker ball that disturbs the timber.

Australia 94/1 (11/20 ov)

Steve Smith joins in the fun now, launching Saqlain Sajib down the ground for a big six.

Australia require around seven an over from here with nine wickets in hand, which ought to be easy.

Australia 82/1 (10/20 ov)

Another over, another classy-looking boundary for Khawaja, who has fast emerged as one of the world's best batsman.

He has fifty, too, and you can see how he is keeping Aaron Finch out of this team now.

Australia 74/1 (9/20 ov)

Sensible stuff from these two after the fall of Watson's wicket. They're ahead of the rate at the moment and have plenty of wickets still in the shed, meaning there is no need to panic.

They take eight risk-free runs from the over, including another eye-catching boundary from Khawaja,

Australia 66/1 (8/20 ov)

A match-turning over? Or simply a minor blip? We'll have to wait and see on that front.

Anyway, Aussie skipper Steve Smith is now out in the middle...

SR Watson run out 21

A lifeline for Bangladesh? Just as Aus appeared to be cruising to a lop-sided victory, Shane Watson has been run out trying to steal a second run.

Sabbir's throw beat him to the punch and the Aussies are one down!

Australia 60/0 (7/20 ov)

Shane Watson is already making Bangladesh pay for that fielding error. This time, the batsman smashes the last ball of the over- which was otherwise respectable - into the stands.

Australia are absolutely bossing this at the moment. The target is already under 100.

Australia 51/0 (6/20 ov)

Watson is starting to threaten now, too. The muscular Aussie delicately taps the ball to the boundary, showing an unusually deft touch.

Later in the over, though, he almost gives it away as he offers up a catch to Mithun, who was trying to take it while running backwards.

He is unable to cling on, however, and Watson survives.

Australia 44/0 (5/20 ov)

Khawaja scores a hat-trick of boundary fours! The stylish left-hander is in the form of his life and he is making the Bangladeshi team pay.

On this occasion, it is the experienced Shakib Al Hasan who is the victim.

Australia 31/0 (4/20 ov)

Mustafizur Rahman is introduced into the attack and what was building up to be a good over is ruined by the last ball, which is sent to the boundary by Watson.

To compound matters, Mustafizur appears to be grabbing his side - he may have an injury.

The Aussies are in control. Because they bat so deep, Bangladesh must take regular wickets to contain the runs.

Australia 24/0 (3/20 ov)

Khawaja is enjoying most of the strike and so it is the left-hander who is hitting the boundaries.

He strokes the ball to the fence twice more in that over to ensure the Aussies stay ahead of the run rate. They are doing this quite easily for the moment.

Australia 14/0 (2/20 ov)

A quieter second over against the off-breaks of Mahmudullah. The batsman appear happy to take the singles that are on offer.

The question is: How dearly will Bangladesh miss Taskin? He has been their strike bowler of late, but is unavailable today.

Australia 9/0 (1/20 ov)

Usman Khawaja leads the Aussie charge, hitting his fourth ball off Mashrafe Mortaza for a skimming six.

The left-hander's intentions are clear.

Mashrafe Mortaza has the ball in his hands and we're set for the second innings.

Bowling figures:

• Coulter-Nile 4-0-32-0
• Watson 4-0-31-2
• Hastings 3-0-24-0
• Marsh 1-0-12-0
• Maxwell 1-0-12-0
• Zampa 4-0-23-3
• Faulkner 3-0-26-0

Bangladesh 156/5 (20/20 ov)

Mahmudullah adds two more boundaries in the final over to take his team to a score they can defend. He finishes unbeaten on 49 from just 29 balls - and has given his side an outside chance of victory.

The Aussies, meanwhile, will have been thrilled with their powerplay effort, but frustrated by their inability to find the blockhole at the death.

Bangladesh 144/5 (19/20 ov)

An expensive over from Watson, that. And suddenly, a score of 150 is within reach for Bangladesh.

The all-rounder, who earlier claimed two wickets, conceded three boundaries, as Bangladesh verge on making a competitive score.

Bangladesh 127/5 (18/20 ov)

Unusually loose stuff from Faulkner in this over. The left-armer drops short and wide and is slashed to the fence for back-to-back boundaries by Mahmudullah.

Then Mushfiqur Rahim joins in the fun, smashing a slower ball to the boundary. That's more like it!

Bangladesh 112/5 (17/20 ov)

The experienced Watson returns to the bowling crease and sends down another tight over. Just four from it. There was lots of swishing in that set of six, but the batsmen are struggling to find the fence.

This has been an impressive showing from the Aussies thus far - can they finish it off?

Bangladesh 108/5 (16/20)

Zampa's work for the day is done. With the ball at least.

The young leg-spinner finishes his four-over spell with figures of 3-23. Well bowled, young man.

Shakib Al Hasan c Coulter-Nile b Zampa 33

Another wicket to Zampa! And it's a crucial one this time: Shakib Al Hasan is heading back to the pavilion after making an eye-catching 33.

It was an orthodox leggie that took the top edge and looped to short third man.

Bangladesh 104/4 (15/20 ov)

Shakib Al Hasan, who has perhaps been the best of the Bangladesh batsmen, finds the long-off boundary after making room for himself. But besides that one stroke, Faulkner is able to keep a lid on the scoring.

Right, there are five overs left in the innings - the batsman will want another fifty runs from somewhere.

Bangladesh 96/4 (14/20 ov)

More tidy work from 23-year-old Zampa, who goes for just six in that over. He seems pretty canny for such a young chap.

Anyway, so far tonight he has picked up 2-19 from three overs.

Bangladesh 91/4 (13/20 ov)

Mahmudullah, looking to make up for lost time, launches the returning John Hastings for a boundary four and then a six in that over.

The Tigers will hope that triggers a late-innings spurt from their middle order.

Bangladesh 80/4 (12/20 ov)

It was a case of six, four and then out in that over from Zampa. The young leggie held his nerve, after disappearing over the boundary, to trap the batsman with a lovely flipper.

You don't see too many deliveries like that in modern-day cricket. The kid has all the skills, though.

Shuvagata Hom lbw b Zampa 13

Zampa has done it again. It looked like a flipper and it trapped the batsman right in front of his stumps.

Clever bowling from the youngster, who is fast earning himself a big reputation. Australia are well on top now in Bangalore.

Bangladesh 68/3 (11/20 ov)

James Faulkner - who has already taken a catch - comes on to bowl for the Aussies, who have an incredible number of multi-dimensional players in their line-up.

The left-armer is something of an expert in this form of the game and he only concedes four from his opening over.

Bangladesh 64/3 (10/20 ov)

A dramatic start, then, for the much-discussed leg-spinner. Zampa picks up a wicket and has another man dropped off his bowling.

Marsh running in from the deep square leg boundary is the guilty party this time.

Mohammad Mithun c Watson b Zampa 23

One of the most underrated deliveries in the game has struck: the leg-spinner's long-hop. Adam Zampa strikes with his second ball.

Mithun picked out the man in the deep with his pull shot.

Bangladesh 61/2 (9/20 ov)

First over of spin then, and it's Glenn Maxwell. Is this the time for the Bangladesh batsman to make their move? Yes. Emphatically yes it is.

Shakib Al Hasan launches a beautiful four and then a violent six to help bring their run rate up to something respectable in this format.

Bangladesh 49/2 (8/20 ov)

Steve Smith is sticking with his pace bowlers for the time being. This time it's big John Hastings with the ball in his hand.

The Aussies appeal for an edge against Mohammad Mithun from the third ball, but the umpire is unmoved.

Just four from that over and it's become a case of now-or-never for these batsman, who really need to find the boundary. The run rate is only a fraction above six at the moment.

Bangladesh 45/2 (7/20 ov)

The first ball of the next over goes to the boundary, too. Where was the urgency in Bangladesh's batting earlier?

Anyway, Marsh manages to get through the rest of the over without inflicting too much damage, until... Mohammad Mithun launches the ball into the stands for our first six of the day!

Bangladesh 33/2 (6/20 ov)

Shakib Al Hasan brings a touch of calm and class to Bangladesh's batting. With the Aussie bowlers sending the ball down at pace, the left-hander neatly guides it away to the third man boundary for four.

Can Shakib be Bangladesh's hero today?

Sabbir Rahman c Faulkner b Watson 12

Another one bites the dust for Bangladesh, and it's Watson with the wicket again. On this occasion, Sabbir went for another mow into the stands, but was caught smartly by a diving James Faulkner at mid-on.

Bangladesh in a spot of bother, here.

Bangladesh 25/1 (5/20 ov)

Coulter-Nile, who is faster than people may think, is keeping things tight at the other end. His skiddy action is making it tough for the batsmen to get him away.

That over cost just six runs - and Steve Smith will be a very happy captain as things stand.

Bangladesh 19/1 (4/20 ov)

Sabbir breaks the shackles with a violent smash down the ground - take that, John Hastings!

The next ball he has an almighty yahoo, too, but can only find fresh air.

Right, it looks like the pedal has been pressed now, as he carts another length delivery through mid-on for a boundary.

Bangladesh 10/1 (3/20 ov)

Bangladesh are going nowhere in a hurry at this rate. The skiddy Coulter-Nile concedes just five runs from that over.

We're through the first three overs in Bangalore, and we've not yet seen a boundary. Something has to break soon, you sense.

Bangladesh 5/1 (2/20 ov)

This has been a very timid start from Bangladesh. The Tigers have already lost their first wicket and are yet to really swish the bat in anger.

Having said that, Couter-Nile and Watson have both found a touch of swing and bounce from this pitch.

Wicket: Soumya Sarkar c Maxwell b Watson 1

It's Shane Watson who opens the bowling at the other end, and it only takes him two balls to make his mark on this match.

The burly all-rounder has Soumya Sarkar caught by Maxwell to put Bangladesh on the back foot already. The batsman could barely reach that and Watson looks sheepish in his celebration.

Bangladesh 2/0 (1/20 ov)

A tidy start from Coulter-Nile, who bowls with some decent pace. The Aussie concedes a single from the first ball, which shaped away a little.

Thereafter, though, he is on target. And the opening over costs just two runs in total.

Right, all of the pre-match fluff is out of the way. Now it's down to the real thing.

Nathan Coulter-Nile has the ball in his hands and he will open up for the Aussies.

Some Aussie fans must be asking the question, what does Aaron Finch have to do to get a game?

The right-hander is among the most destructive batsman in the world, as well as a useful slow left-armer, but his face doesn't seem to fit for Steve Smith and co.

Confirmed teams

Bangladesh: 1 Mohammad Mithun, 2 Soumya Sarkar, 3 Sabbir Rahman , 4 Shakib Al Hasan, 5 Mahmudullah, 6 Mushfiqur Rahim, 7 Shuvagata Hom, 8 Mashrafe Mortaza, 9 Saqlain Sajib, 10 Al-Amin Hossain, 11 Mustafizur Rahman

Australia: 1 Usman Khawaja, 2 Shane Watson, 3 Steven Smith, 4 David Warner, 5 Glenn Maxwell, 6 Mitchell Marsh, 7 James Faulkner, 8 Peter Nevill, 9 John Hastings, 10 Nathan Coulter-Nile, 11 Adam Zampa

Tamim Iqbal is a huge loss for the Bangladeshi team.

The left-hander is supremely talented and has the ability to take the game away from any side during the first six overs.

His absence only adds to Bangladesh's ever-increasing woes, which are threatening their World T20 campaign.

Meanwhile, Mashrafe Mortaza admits: "We would have liked to bowl too."

Some big teams news for Bangladesh, with Mortaza confirming: "Tamim is sick. He is not playing.

"Taskin and Sunny are out. Saqlain and Shuvagata are playing. Al-Amin will also be playing. We have to make a big total. It's simple"

Breaking news:

Australia have won the toss and will bowl first.

Steve Smith explained his thinking: "Generally a pretty good chasing ground. Might be a little bit of dew too. Humid here, so it might swing too."

He also revealed the Aussies' team news, saying: "We're still in a good place, we can learn a lot from the way we played the last game. John Hastings is in for Ashton Agar"

Word from the ground is that the Bangalore pitch should offer plenty of turn, which ought to help Bangladesh.

Anyway, toss news is almost upon us now...

Pre-match thoughts

Mashrafe Mortaza on the Bangladesh coach: "Hathuru knows a lot about the Australian players. We will be seeking a lot of tips from him. The plans are there but the main thing is to execute them. We know that Australia can destroy any team."

Pre-match thoughts

Steve Smith: "We're in different conditions to what a lot of us have played in. A lot of us have played in the IPL over here but you don't quite often see wickets that are spinning like these ones."

Bangladesh lost their last match against Pakistan after conceding 201 for 5 in 20 overs. Against an even more formidable-looking Aussie batting line-up, Tigers fans might just be fearing the worst today.

We're less than ten minutes from the toss, now.

Possible team line-ups:

Australia: 1 Shane Watson, 2 Usman Khawaja, 3 Steven Smith (capt), 4 David Warner, 5 Glenn Maxwell, 6 Mitchell Marsh, 7 James Faulkner, 8 Peter Nevill (wk), 9 Nathan Coulter-Nile, 10 Adam Zampa, 11 Josh Hazlewood

Bangladesh: 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Soumya Sarkar, 3 Sabbir Rahman, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5 Shakib Al Hasan, 6 Mahmudullah, 7 Mohammad Mithun, 8 Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), 9 Al-Amin Hossain, 10 Mustafizur Rahman 11 Abu Hider

Remember, we'll have the team news and result of the toss for you in a little under 30 minutes from now...

In the IPL, Bangalore has hosted some very high-scoring contests and given the batting talent available to both sides, it appears we could be in store for another run-fest.

Australia are, of course, missing Mitchell Starc, who would have spearheaded their attack at this tournament if he wasn't injured.

However, they still have plenty of batting and bowling talent in their ranks, even if most experts question the quality of their spin options. Are Adam Zampa and Glenn Maxwell good enough at this level?

Recent form:

(last five completed matches, most recent first)

• Australia LWWLL
• Bangladesh LWWLW

Of course, Taskin and Arafat are not the first Bangladesh bowlers to be suspended for illegal actions.

Left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak was the first to be suspended in November 2008, before the ban was lifted in March 2009. Meanwhile, spinner Sohag Gazi was suspended from bowling in 2014 and was cleared in February 2015.

Ahead of the game, Bangladesh stars Taskin Ahmed and Arafat Sunny have been suspended with immediate effect after an independent assessment found their bowling actions illegal.

Taskin, the pace spearhead and Sunny, the left-arm spinner, underwent assessments in Chennai after being reported for suspect actions during the World T20 qualifiers against the Netherlands.

Their bowling actions were assessed at the Sri Ramachandra University and the International Cricket Council (ICC) , who confirmed that their actions have been deemed illegal.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh had a terrible opening game, losing by 55 runs to Pakistan at Eden Gardens on 16 March.

The Bangladesh side can rely only on a few key players to perform in every match.

In Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudullah and Shakib Al Hasan they have match-winners who are capable of winning games on their own. However, they need support from the other players to beat Australia today.

Australia and Bangladesh will be looking to get back to winning ways when they face off in a Group 2 tie at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

The Aussies suffered a disappointing nine-run loss to arch rivals New Zealand in their opening game on 18 March. The Australian bowlers did well to contain New Zealand to 142, but it was their batsmen who let them down.

As a result, the number one-ranked batsman in the T20 format, Aaron Finch might get a game after being benched against New Zealand.

Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of this much-anticipated clash between Australia and Bangladesh in Bangalore.

Defeat here would be crippling for both teams as they look to secure qualification for the semi-finals.

Between now and the all-important team news/team, we'll have plenty of pre-game analysis to bring you.