Crushing blow to Tigers' hopes

Bangladesh relived their past batting horrors to crash to a nine-wicket defeat to West Indies and dent their quarterfinals hopes.

In a bizarre game that lasted only 31.1 overs, the disciplined West Indians blew away Bangladesh to 58 in just 18.5 overs--their lowest-ever total in ODIs.

It is also the lowest total ever made by a Full ICC Member nation in World Cup.

The Caribbeans knocked off 58 in 12.2 overs in the crucial Group B clash at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.

Chris Gayle struck 37 - including his 8,000th one-day run.

Bangladesh, for whom it was a huge anticlimax, made the only breakthrough when Naeem Islam bowled Devon Smith (6).

But the bowlers were bowling for a hopeless cause. Chris Gayle was in a hurry to finish the affair quickly, scoring 37 off 36 balls while Darren Bravo was not out on 9.

After their unconvincing win against Ireland, the huge defeat is a crushing blow to Bangladesh, who probably have missed a clear opportunity to all but seal a quarter-final spot.

They now face what could be a crucial match with England on March 11.

It was all a far cry from the afternoon, when one Bangladesh batsman after another appeared to be in a hurry to get back to the comforts of the pavilion.

The Tigers' vaunted batting combusted in dramatic fashion in front of a large but increasingly disconsolate home support.

They were bowled out so quickly that there was just a 10-minute break between innings and the day-night match did not need the floodlights.

Many Bangladesh fans threw their "Four and Six" cards in the air in protest, after their team hit the lowest ebb.

Junaid Siddique (25) and Mohammad Ashraful (11) were the only Tigers batsmen to make double-figures.

Bangladesh have only themselves to blame.

True, the West Indies bowlers utilised a good line to capitalise on movement from the pitch, but most of the Tigers' batsmen, particularly their recognised ones, got themselves out to poor shots rather than outstanding bowling.

The Caribbeans used only three bowlers, Suleiman Benn finished with 4-18, player of the match Kamer Roach took 3-19 and captain Darren Sammy took 3-21.

The tone was set three balls into the first over when dangerman Tamim Iqbal flashed at an angled delivery from Roach, only in edging to Sammy at second slip.

Benn was taken for nine runs in an opening over of spin from Benn and West Indies captain Sammy brought himself into the attack, with near immediate effect.

His third ball was short and straight, catching a faint edge from an unsure Imrul Kayes poke to give wicket-keeper Devon Thomas a simple catch and then, with the first ball of his next over, Mushfiqur Rahim provided a low catch for Ramnaresh Sarwan at short midwicket.

Siddique offered brief resistance – scoring an efficient 25 - but not even a review could save him when a straight yorker from Roach wrapped him on the pads, bang in front of the stumps.

Ashraful (11) would be the only other Bangladeshi batsman to make double figures as the trio of Sammy, Roach and Benn tore through the order with ease.

Benn bowled Shakib Al Hasan to claim his first wicket, and his side's fifth, before Raqibul Hasan was caught at point off Sammy to leave Bangladesh battling just to salvage respectability with only 15 overs gone.

It was a mission that was beyond them as Benn claimed three of the final four wickets - including Ashraful - to dismiss the home side for the fourth-lowest in the tournament's history.

News Source: 

 BDNews24