World Cup: Bangladesh get knocked out but can hold their heads high

In their fifth World Cup, Bangladesh made their first knockout game. They have had some success in the past, getting through to the “Super 8s” in the ridiculously long winded 2007 tournament. However, this is the first time the Tigers of Bangladesh have played in a World Cup game that was winner takes all. There is an argument to be make about this being the biggest game in their history, it is certainly the most important they have played since they were granted Test status back in 2000. In the build up to this game, the Bangladesh players were keen to point out that they were under no pressure. No one gave them a chance and as a result they were laid back about the game. “The group stage was more important for us because we knew that we have to go through because back home the people are expecting we can beat some bigger sides,” Mashrafe Mortaza told the media. “That was more pressure, I think. For [this game], the boys are very relaxed.” [caption id=“attachment_2163005” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  In the build up to this game, the Bangladesh players were keen to point out that they were under no pressure. AFP[/caption] The match began in the way that we would have expected. India’s openers put together a decent opening stand, finding the boundary but also rotating the strike. While there were no real drama, the Bangladesh bowlers kept it reasonably tight. There was never a point during the first 30 overs of the Indian innings where you thought the current World Champions were running away with things. Certainly when Shakib-al-Hasan spun one past the edge of Shikhar Dhawan’s bat to have him stumped, there was a feeling that Bangladesh were in this game. When Virat Kohli departed in the next over the game was very much in the balance, before this game he was averaging 124 against these opponents. When Ajinkya Rahane was out trying to loft the ball over cover for a scratchy 19, Bangladesh were a couple of wicket taking deliveries away from taking control of the match. Taskin Ahmed was consistently finding his yorker length, Rubel Hossain was generating decent pace, Shakib was keeping it tight. When the second set of drinks were taken India were 132-3 and losing their way. Mortaza brought himself back on to bowl, and has he has so often in this World Cup he served up a couple of half volleys as his creaky knees got warmed up. As against England, his second over of the spell was much better, and second ball swung back into Suresh Raina striking him on the pads. An appeal was turned down and on review it was shown to be pitching marginally outside leg stump. If seemed as if Bangladesh felt that with that millimetre of difference, their chances in this match had gone. The fielding got ragged; the bowling was not as accurate. The Indians had executed their game plan perfectly. They had two set batsmen going into the death overs and wickets in hand so that they could attack. Bangladesh were further aggrieved when Rohit Sharma, on 90, was adjusted caught off a delivery the umpires decided was full toss above waist height, and therefore a no-ball. But by then, their chances restricting India to a total that they could chase was gone. Rohit made another 47 runs, but even if he had been dismissed, he had done his job. Bangladesh were set the task of chasing 303 against a bowling attack that had taken all 60 wickets in six games. In previous tournaments, it has been the Indian batting that has impressed; in this World Cup, it has been the seam bowling of Mohammad Shami, Umesh Yadav and Mohit Sharma that have been turning heads. By the end of this game they had made that 70 wickets out of 70, a seventh win and a seventh time their opponents were all out. Bangladesh started well enough, with Tamim Iqbal hitting Shami for three fours in an over to get him going. The issue was always going to be keeping up with the rate while keeping wickets intact. Right from the start it was clear that doing both was too much to expect from the Tigers. They were dismissed for 193, 110 runs short of a target that was always beyond them. As they leave the World Cup, this Bangladesh side will do so with a huge number of positives. Taskin Ahmed has been a revelation and has blossomed on the biggest stage. Mahmudullah’s back-to-back hundreds were innings of maturity and class. Rubel Hossain has managed to back up his decent form over the last 18 months with spells of pace and aggression in this tournament. Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib had decent returns that you would expect from Bangladesh’s best two players. For the first time in a long time, Bangladesh will walk away without their pride in tatters and their place at the Full Member table not up for debate. As things stand Bangladesh will be fighting it out with Zimbabwe and the top Associates to make the next World Cup. On this showing, they are more deserving of a place than others in the Full Member club, But the way the ranking system works, it is unlikely they will move into the top eight ahead of the 2018 qualification cut off. If they were to fail to make the next World Cup, the tournament would be poorer without them.