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ICC World Cup 2019

Winning Start of Team Tigers

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Update: 2019-06-03 04:25:14
Winning Start of Team Tigers

Bangladesh Vs South Africa Played at Kensington Oval, London:
Bangladesh 330/6 (Mushfiqur Rahim 78, Shakib Al Hasan 75, Mahmudullah Riad 46*, Soumya Sarkar 42, Mosadeeq Hossain 26, Mohammad Mithun 21, A Phehlukyao 2/52, Imran Tahir 2/57, CH Morris 2/73) beat South Africa 309/8 (F du Plessis 62, AK Markram 45, JP Duminy 45, HE Vander Dussen 41, DA Miller 38, Q de Kock 21, Mustafizur Rahman 3/62, Mohammad Saifuddin 2/57, Shakib Al Hasan 1/50) by 21 Runs.
Player of the Match: Shakib Al Hasan

In sun shining Kensington Oval London tournament dark horse Bangladesh won the first round of the nine round bout of mission ICC World Cup 2019. Few records were toppled, few new milestones were set up. Put into bat Bangladesh scoring 330/6 set up its highest score in World Cup, record the highest of them in ODI. South Africa was set to create new world of highest run chase. All they could was going near, finishing at 309/8. Bangladesh won by 21 runs.  This winning start would give great momentum to Bangladesh.

Team which some experts thought would not win many toppled one of the formidable rivals playing brilliant cricket all the way. Bangladesh scored the highest run in World Cup 2019 so far and defended it professionally. South Africa losing back to back against England and Bangladesh and struck with injury problems of key players compounded and complicated their mission for top four. Steyn is still nursing his injury, Amla could not get over from the strike on his head by a bouncer in the match against England. 
Lungi Ngidi limped out with stressed hamstring. For Bangladesh both inured players Tamim and Saifuddin played and contributed. 

Mashrafe was reasonable in his pre match press statement that his team is very much aware of the challenges. Their intention was playing to potential and definitely making winning start. They did it playing positively aggressive cricket all the way.

All batsmen got start. Mushfique(78), Shakib (75), Mahmuduallah (46*) and Soumya (42) batted brilliantly. Even talented youngsters Mosaddeq (26) and Mithun (21) performed the duty they were asked for. Bangladesh produced a very challenging 330/6 in allotted overs. 54 runs were scored in the last four overs by all guns blazing Mahmudullah and Mosaddeq. When tigers defended Mustafiz and Saifuddin took wickets at regular interval squeezing the target chase of South Africa extremely difficult. Bangladesh won the high scoring encounter by 21 runs. This winning momentum may pave the way for getting stronger and stronger as matches come one by won till round 9. Hope experts round the world would start believing Bangladesh among the favorites for the top four. It is too early though. There is no scope for getting complacent. For South Africa matters have already got difficult losing back to back matches against England and Bangladesh. With some key players in the injury their chances are getting steep.

We are not sure what prompted Faf du Plessis opting to bowl after winning the toss on an easy paced Oval wicket with sun shining brightly. Perhaps he thought his pace bowlers would decimate Bangladesh top order like West Indies and New Zealand did to Pakistan and Sri Lanka. But this Bangladesh is very different. They are well tuned and more committed. Soumya was looking in prime form, Tamim was batting steadily.

Bangladesh managed the initial burst of Protean bowling racing to 60 in the 9th over. But two quick blows by Phehlukyao and Morris removing Tamim and Soumya in quick succession created some tensions. But the two seasoned professionals Shakib and Mushfique contained Protean probable storm with extraordinary skills and clinical perfection. They ran well and smoked loose balls across the fence at regular interval.

142 runs 3rd wicket partnership set a very strong foundation to Bangladesh batting. When this together were making merry talks were there about Bangladesh reaching 350 or more. Shakib was looking good for a three figure score. Leggie Imran Tahir yorked him when he shuffled to a full length ball a little too much expositing his stumps in an effort for a sweep. Shakib scored 75 with 8 fours and a six. Mithun joining Mushfique kept the momentum going. His brief innings of run a ball 21 had some punishing strokes. It was again a sharp turning Tahir googley that accounted for his departure.  

Mushfique also left soon try to lift Phehlukyao over cover. He scored 78 with 8 lovely fours. If either Shakib or Mushfique were at the wicket till the end Bangladesh could have taken the score well beyond Proteans. Not that Mahmudullah and Mosaddeq did not do that. The pair batted aggressively .They blasted 66 runs in 6.5 overs.

Some of the dismissive strokes that two M’s played were to be seen to believe. 54 runs were scored in the last four overs which actually made the difference in the long run. Bangladesh scored 330/6 the highest off the tournament so far and the highest by Bangladesh in World Cup and any ODI. Mahmudullah the hero of ICC world cup 2015 smoked unbeaten 46 in 33 deliveries. Young Mosaddeq contributed useful 26 in 20 deliveries. Bangladesh perhaps got some clues now how to bat at death overs.

Chasing 331 was a new milestone that could be achieved in South Africa could do that. The record chase of 329 in World Cup belongs to Ireland in 2011 when they shell shocked England. Without Amla it was always a daunting task. However, South African openers de Kock and Markram were set about the business smoothly. But a brilliant run out of de Kock by Mushfique stemmed the progress before the partnership could flourish at 49.  Markram and du Plessis kept the momentum going. Mustafiz was in his tune with his pace, subtle variations.

Bangladeshis in the field appeared nervy. Few catches of du Plessis were dropped and few not approached. However, master all rounder Shakib cleaned up du Plessis (66) before he could strike greater damage.  This was his 250th ODI wicket. The great all rounder has joined the elite club of 5000 runs and 250 wickets in ODI. Sky is his limit now. 

Miraj accounted for Markram (42). At 3/147 in 27th over South Africa was still in the game. But Mustafiz nearing his peak form and Saifuddin getting into his stride kept on taking regular wickets. When Morris got out in the 46th over with team score at 275/5 target looked a distant destination. Mustafiz struck the deadly blow cleaning up Duminy almost sealing the match. It was well beyond the reach of Rabada and Imran Tahir . South African innings curtained at 309/7 still 21 runs short.

BANGLDESH DREAM started setting wings. This win would give momentum to Bangladesh cause. But few areas need ironing. If Mashrafe is not match fit he should let Rubel play. Bangladesh would definitely need smartening fielding. Ground fielding and catching did not match with their brilliance with the bat and bowling. Fortunately South Africans failed to capitalize. Well it is very early in the competition, a long way to go. 

We read somewhere Brendon McCullam stating about Bangladesh possibility of winning only one match in ICC World Cup 2019. Bangladesh has already won one of one and is looking good for few more. The next in line is his team New Zealand. Did not Bangladesh White Wash New Zealand on two occasions when BM was part of it? Experts must be careful about teething tigers.

BDST: 0422 HRS, JUN 03, 2019
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