Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza refused to write off his side's chances of qualifying for the 2019 ICC World Cup semifinals despite a 48-run loss to reigning champions Australia at Trent Bridge on Thursday.

"I think still you never know," Mashrafe told reporters. "I think, we have still three matches left. We have to play hard and then let's see."

"And it's going to be difficult for sure, even if we win all those three matches," added Mashrafe, whose side next play strugglers Afghanistan in Southampton on June 24.

Only the top four at the end of the 10-team round-robin group phase will advance to the knockout stages and Thursday's defeat left Bangladesh, who have beaten both South Africa and the West Indies, in fifth place.

They are two points behind fourth-placed India, having already played two games more than Virat Kohli's men.

The current top four of Australia, New Zealand, England and India are starting to look uncatchable even though there are several rounds of group matches left.

"I think at this stage we thought a few matches would have been lost by the top four and the tournament would then have gone in a different way," said Mashrafe.

"But there are still a few matches left, you never know. Let's see."

It might have been a different story for Bangladesh in Nottingham had David Warner not been dropped off Mashrafe's bowling on 10.

The opener capitalised to score 166 in a total of 381-5 that effectively put the match beyond the reach of Bangladesh, who nevertheless responded with a gutsy 333-8 featuring Mushfiqur Rahim's unbeaten century. 

"We knew we have to pick up wickets," added Mashrafe, the sole survivor from the Tigers' celebrated 2005 one-day international win over Australia in Cardiff.

"If not then it's going to be very difficult, which is exactly what happened. David Warner is batting so well."

Feature image courtesy: AFP Photo/ Paul Ellis

David Warner said he felt ‘just so grateful�?to be playing for Australia after his run-laden return continued with a World Cup hundred against Bangladesh.

Warner's international career came to a juddering halt when he was given a 12-month ban for his part in a ball-tampering scandal during a Test against South Africa in Cape Town last year.

At that stage, there was widespread speculation that Warner -- widely regarded as the instigator of an event that saw Cameron Bancroft apply sandpaper to the ball -- might never play for Australia again.

But having completed a year-long ban, the 32-year-old Warner has been in superb form for the reigning champions at the World Cup.

The left-handed opener made Bangladesh pay for dropping him on 10 at Trent Bridge on Thursday by scoring 166 -- his second century of the World Cup -- in a total of 381-5.

That proved too much for the Tigers to chase, with Australia winning by 48 runs to go top of the 10-team round-robin table.

Bangladesh's total was still their largest in an ODI while the 714 runs shared between the two teams was a World Cup record, surpassing the 688 scored by Australia and Sri Lanka in 2015.

Warner is now this World Cup's leading run-scorer with 447 runs at an average of 89.4.

Having acknowledged it had been a "dark year for Australian cricket", Warner was asked if there had been any personal benefits to his enforced break.

"I feel a lot fresher. You don't get a year off, you hardly get a couple weeks off (in international cricket).

"I've worked hard on my own fitness and taken my mind away from the game, just the little things of being on time for buses, for aeroplanes, packing your bags, travelling a lot."

"You just let your mind be at ease. And to have time at home as well with my family was awesome and I really enjoyed that," added Warner, whose wife is expecting the couple's third child in England.

"(But) that was obviously a dark year for Australian cricket. And we've just got to keep winning for our country, doing the best we can.

"We just can't be complacent and comfortable. We've got to keep moving forward playing our best cricket."

Warner took 110 balls to get to three figures against Bangladesh -- relatively sedate by modern standards.

"I don't mean to go out there and bat slowly," insisted Warner, who jokingly said his team-mates now call him "humble" following previous nicknames of 'Bull' and 'The Reverend'.

"I've tried to get the calculation of how many fielders I've hit in the first 10. It's a bit frustrating because you middle one and it goes full pace to the fielder."

Warner received solid support in century stands from Australia captain Aaron Finch (53) and Usman Khawaja (89), with his skipper advising him to keep going early on.

"Finchy kept on telling me to 'hang in there and bat deep, bat time'," Warner explained. "And that was in the eighth or ninth over.

"It's generally not my game to just sit there. But it must be a bit more maturity, I think."

Warner's 16th one-day international century saw him equal Australia great Adam Gilchrist's tally of hundreds in this format.

"I'm just so grateful for being able to have the opportunity to play for Australia and to be in the same sentence as Adam Gilchrist is fantastic and it's overwhelming," he said.

"He was a bit more of a dasher than what I am at the top of the order.

"But for me, it's just about going out there and giving my best, to be honest.

"That's all I want to be remembered for, is someone who gives 110 percent when I go out on the field."

Feature image courtesy: AFP Photo/ Paul Ellis

Australia opener David Warner made Bangladesh pay for an early drop with a big hundred as the reigning champions piled on the runs in a World Cup match at Trent Bridge on Thursday.

Warner, missed on 10, made 166 in Australia's imposing total of 381-5 -- his second century of the World Cup.

The 32-year-old, the highest run scorer of the tournament, with 447 runs, is back to his devastating best for Australia after completing a 12-month ban for his role in a ball-tampering scandal in South Africa.

"Today was a great foundation for our batting," said Warner, who shared stands of 121 with captain Aaron Finch (53) and 192 with Usman Khawaja (89).

"I felt a little bit bogged down and frustrated. I kept hitting fielders but I managed to hang in there.

"I was feeling a little bit fatigued by the end but I was looking to score as many runs as possible so our bowlers had something to bowl at."

Soumya Sarkar gave Bangladesh fans something to cheer with 3-58 in eight overs.

But the Tigers still need to complete their highest one-day international run chase and the highest at a World Cup if they are to achieve an improbable victory.

They will be buoyed by making 322-3 to beat the West Indies by seven wickets in their previous match -- the second-highest run chase in World Cup history.

Bangladesh suffered a blow before play when a back spasm ruled out Mohammad Saifuddin, their leading bowler at the tournament.

But his absence could not excuse Bangladesh's often wayward bowling, with the recalled Rubel Hossain's nine wicketless overs costing an expensive 83 runs. 

Even so, Warner could have been out for just 10 when a slashing cut off Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza found its way to Sabbir Rahman at backward point.

But the fielder appeared not to have seen the ball properly against the backdrop of the crowd and it burst through his hands.

Australia captain and opener Finch, fresh from his 153 in an 87-run win over Sri Lanka, was out soon after completing his eighth fifty in 11 ODI innings when he guided a rising Sarkar delivery straight to Rubel at short third man.

But that did not stop Warner pressing on to a hundred.

He eventually fell when, trying to uppercut Sarkar, he lobbed a catch to Rubel at short third man. Warner faced 147 balls, hitting 14 fours and five sixes.

But his exit simply brought in the big-hitting Glenn Maxwell, who smashed 32 off 10 balls before he was run out.

Khawaja fell in sight of a hundred when he bottom-edged a pull off Sarkar and wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim dived forward to hold a good catch while Steve Smith was plumb lbw to Mustafizur Rahman for one.

A brief rain break halted play after 49 overs before Australia scored 13 off the last over. Australia are currently third in the World Cup table, with four wins from five games, while Bangladesh are fifth.

The top four sides from the 10-team round-robin stage qualify for the semi-finals.

Feature image courtesy: AFP Photo/ Paul Ellis

David Warner's century paved the way for Australia to beat Bangladesh by 48 runs at Trent Bridge on Thursday as the reigning champions went top of the World Cup table.

Warner made Bangladesh pay for dropping him on 10 with an innings of 166 -- the left-handed opener's second century of the World Cup -- in a total of 381/ 5.

Bangladesh, needing to surpass Ireland's World Cup record chase of 329-7 against England in 2011, struggled to keep up with the required run-rate.

Mushfiqur Rahim hit a fine 102 not out but the wicket-keeper's entertaining fifth wicket stand of 127 with Mahmudullah (69) came too late to alter the course of the match as Bangladesh finished on 333-8 after their 50 overs.

Defeat left them in fifth place, with only the top four from the 10-team round-robin group stage qualifying for the semi-finals.

"It's a great achievement but for us it's about getting these two points and moving on to Lord's," said man-of-the-match Warner.

"You've got to adapt and it's about momentum, so far things are working well," he added. "It was a tad slow, the wicket, but it was a grind for the bowlers, it was very difficult for the bowlers."

The 32-year-old Warner, the highest run-scorer of the tournament, with 447 runs, is back to his devastating best for Australia after completing a 12-month ban for his role in a ball-tampering scandal in South Africa.

He received solid support from Australia captain Aaron Finch (53) and Usman Khawaja (89).

Soumya Sarkar took 3-58 from eight overs but, by the time the sixth bowler came on, Australia had already benefited from plenty of wayward deliveries from an attack missing paceman Mohammad Saifuddin, who was ruled out with a back spasm.

Finch, fresh from his 153 in a win over Sri Lanka, set the tone by launching Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza -- the sole survivor on either side from the Tigers' shock 2005 ODI victory over Australia in Cardiff -- for six over cover.

But the opener was out soon after completing his eighth fifty in 11 ODI innings when he guided a rising Soumya delivery to Rubel Hossain at short third man.

An increasingly fluent Warner eventually fell to the same combination after facing 147 balls, hitting 14 fours and five sixes.

Khawaja fell in sight of a hundred when he bottom-eged a pull off Soumya and Mushfiqur dived forward to hold a good catch.

Trent Bridge has twice seen England set a record innings score in a one-day international, including the current mark of 481-6 against Australia last year.

Bangladesh did not help their own cause when a chaotic mix-up between Tamim Iqbal and Soumya saw the latter run out by Finch's direct hit from mid-on.

Shakib Al Hasan, fresh from his match-winning century against the West Indies, then fell for 41 when he chipped a Marcus Stoinis slower ball to Warner at mid-off.

Tamim played on to Mitchell Starc for 62 and the left-arm fast bowler's first ball to Liton Das saw the new batsman struck on the helmet by a bouncer but he batted on after receiving on-field treatment.

Das was eventually lbw to leg-spinner Adam Zampa but the experienced Mushfiqur continued to give the massed ranks of Bangladesh fans in the crowd plenty to cheer.

There were more roars of approval when Mahmudullah launched Zampa for a 95-metre straight six before he holed out.

And the crowd rose to their feet when Mushfiqur completed his seventh ODI century, off 95 balls including nine fours and a six.

Feature image courtesy: AFP Photo/ Paul Ellis

Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey says the defending champions will target Bangladesh dangerman Shakib Al Hasan when the two sides meet at Trent Bridge on Thursday.

Shakib's brilliant century helped the Tigers complete the second-highest World Cup chase in a seven-wicket win over the West Indies in Taunton on Monday.

The 32-year-old all-rounder, who is the tournament's leading run-scorer with 384 runs, also hit a century against England earlier in the tournament and has been among the wickets.

When Bangladesh beat Australia in a 2005 one-day international in Cardiff, it was widely regarded as one of the biggest upsets in cricket history.

But they are now an established force and, having beaten both South Africa and the West Indies already at this tournament, they are pushing for a semi-final berth.

"We've obviously put our time into Shakib and all the players at the top of the order as well as their bowling," Carey said on Wednesday.

"He's in probably career-best form with the white ball. So, we sort of know the areas and line and length we want to bowl to him, and I guess out there we'll assess the conditions as well.

"We leave that up to the bowlers and the captain to do that, but he's one guy we want to get out early."

Australia, despite a defeat by India, appear to be well on course for a semi-final berth, with four wins from their five matches in the 10-team round-robin phase so far.

But wicketkeeper-batsman Carey said there was still room for improvement from the defending champions.

"We obviously like to take wickets up front, there have been times we probably would have liked to finish off innings with the bat," he said.

"Although we're getting results, we're still striving hard to try to find that perfect game and put a full 50 or 100 overs together. But the guys are working really hard and we're aware of the areas to keep improving."

All-rounder Marcus Stoinis could return at Trent Bridge on Thursday after missing Australia's past two matches with a side strain.

"It will be great to have Stoinis to come back into the side," said Carey. "And I know he's worked really hard off the ground to be ready to go, and he's smacking

Feature image courtesy: AFP Photo/ Paul Ellis

Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza says his side's astonishing win against Australia in 2005 will mean nothing as he plots another famous victory over the defending world champions.

The Tigers produced one of the biggest upsets in cricket history when they defeated an Australia side featuring several all-time greats in a one-day international in Cardiff.  

It remains Bangladesh's lone win in 21 ODIs against Australia.

Mashrafe set the tone at Sophia Gardens by having Adam Gilchrist lbw for a second-ball duck before Mohammad Ashraful hit a memorable hundred as the Tigers chased down a target of 250 to spark delirious scenes.

The skipper is the sole survivor from either side who will be in World Cup action at Trent Bridge on Thursday and is proud of the progress his side have made since that heady afternoon in the Welsh capital.

"It's a really nice memory. I can tell you about everything we did on that particular day and night," Mashrafe told reporters at Trent Bridge on Wednesday.

"Obviously that Australia (in 2005) was very strong. It's a long time, 14 years, and it was in this country," added the 35-year-old seam bowler, a veteran of 213 ODIs.

"It has changed a lot. I know a few players in our team who believe that they can beat anybody.

"Whatever we have done in the past is not going to help. It's a new day, a new match. I hope the same will happen (on Thursday) but for that, we have to play hard and at our best."

Bangladesh revived their bid to reach the semi-finals by beating the West Indies on Monday.

Shakib Al Hasan hit his second successive century as the Tigers reached a target of 322 with seven wickets and more than eight overs to spare, lifting them to fifth in the table, two points behind fourth-placed India.

The top four teams from the 10-team round-robin phase qualify for the semi-finals.

Shakib's hundreds have underlined his status as one of the world's leading all-rounders.

"Shakib is brilliant," said Mashrafe. "Even when he started his career for Bangladesh, he's been brilliant.

"He's a very confident guy and hopefully he will keep going. I think we need to support him as well.

"I think we need to keep up with what Shakib is doing and the other guys have to step up. But if you look at it, the other boys have stepped up. So, it's not been a one-man army."

Feature image courtesy: AFP Photo/ Saeed Khan