A magnificent beginning by the Tigers in the World Cup! Bangladesh’s win against South Africa has reconfirmed that no team in the world can afford to undermine the team Tigers anymore. If one ignores Bangladesh, one is sure to lose the battle. At the same time, Tigers too cannot afford to feel complacent with their ability and undermine any other team, and if they do so they also might have to face the consequences.
Bangladesh’s 21-run win against South Africa in their World Cup opener in the Oval on Sunday was not an upset by any stretch of the imagination. From posting their highest ever ODI score of 330, to executing plans in all other departments against the Proteas, everything clicked for the Tigers on the day. Everyone’s collective performance in the end helped Bangladesh to register their first World Cup points.
After winning the toss and electing to bat first, it was essential for Bangladesh to get a good start; and Bangladesh’s openers didn’t disappoint. Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar got Bangladesh off to a flier. When Tamim departed, the scoreboard already had 60 odd runs in 8 overs. Soumya Sarkar played the aggressor to perfection and while the scoreboard will only read 42 off 30 balls to his name, a counter-attacking innings meant that it was South Africa who were on the back foot. After the openers gave a quick and solid foundation, it was the middle order’s turn to build on the start that the openers provided.
Bangladesh’s most experienced and dependable men did exactly that. Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim first brought about a calm in the innings, kept it cool and in the meanwhile, built a steady stand for the third wicket. The duo added 142 for the third wicket while Mushfiqur alone added 71 of 68 in the partnership and Shakib contributed 69 of 73 balls. It was this partnership that put them well in the course of a total around the 300-run mark.
Mahmudullah and Mosaddek Hossain ensured that the job done so far did not go in vain. The duo provided the Bangladesh batting with the much-needed impetus during the death overs. Adding 66 runs for the sixth wicket in no time, the partnership led Bangladesh to a total which proved to be a match-winning one in the end.
330 runs on the board was a job well done under any condition and on any ground of the world. Mahmudullah remained unbeaten at 46 and his innings like the 42 from Soumya Sarkar at the top of the order was equally crucial. Post the first innings, when the Bangladesh side took the field to try and defend 330, South Africa got off to a decent start, cautious but on its way to the target.
However, a catch off the in-form Quinton de Kock went down but wicketkeeper Mushfiqur who had done everything right up till then, despite dropping the catch, sensed a run out opportunity and dismissed de Kock with a direct hit. That run out changed things for Bangladesh. The match was going down to the final stages. Faf du Plessis stood firm between Bangladesh and victory.
But Bangladesh held on to their nerves, kept bowling in the right areas as Shakib cleaned du Plessis up with a beauty of a delivery. Mustafizur Rahman by scalping three wickets played a crucial part in thwarting the Proteas from stealing away the match from the clutches of Bangladesh. Despite a few misfields here and there Bangladesh did not give any easy runs to the opposition, which made the task harder for them. At the end, the team Bangladesh had registered a famous win at the Oval – another testimony to the value of hard work and meticulous planning.
