Bangladesh bow out of WC
March 20, 2011 00:00:00
Bangladesh's World Cup campaign ended with a humiliating 206-run defeat against South Africa in their last Group B match of the ICC Cricket World Cup'2011 at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the city Saturday, reports UNB.
The day's disgraceful show shattered the long-cherished dream of co-hosts Bangladesh to reach the quarterfinals of the ongoing World Cup, as the huge cricket-loving crowd at the big bowl and millions others across the country looked mortified.
By virtue of the day's well-deserved win, South Africa not only maintained their top slot in the group B securing ten points from six matches to make a quarterfinal berth but also took revenge of their 67 runs defeat against Bangladesh in Super Eights stage of the last World Cup held in West Indies in 2007.
At a post-match press briefing, Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan said: "The spectators deserved more from us as we played good cricket in the last 12 months. we could not do it today, and I feel sorry for them."
Replying to a query, he said: "We failed to prove our ability on a big occasion. It may be for pressure or something else."
Chasing a challenging
total of 285 runs in a flat wicket, Bangladesh top order batsmen fell at regular intervals against fierce bowling attack by the South Africans, especially left-arm medium pacer Lonwabo Tsotsobe and right-arm spinner Johan Botha.
Finally, Bangladesh were dismissed cheaply for 78 runs (in 28 overs), 20 runs more than their lowest ever total of 58 against West Indies in any format of international cricket.
Like their nightmarish match against West Indies here early this month, Bangladesh faced another batting debacle in the day's match as their reputed batsmen were returning to the dressing room in quick succession.
No Bangladesh batsman was able to reach the double digit except captain Shakib Al Hasan, who contributed 30 runs off 49 balls with four fours before he was caught by Van Wyk off a Robin Peterson delivery.
Bangladesh lost four top wickets of Tamim, Imrul, Junaid and Nafees for only 21 runs in eight overs and they never recovered from the early blow.
Bangladesh's vice-captain cum opening batsman Tamim Iqbal, who earlier expressed his intention to be the highest scorer in the World Cup, led the procession towards the dressing room scoring five runs off 14 balls Saturday after making a duck in the last match against the Netherlands.
