Dutch win inspires Bangladesh
Sunday, 7 June 2009
NOTTINGHAM, Jun 6(AFP):The stunning last-ball win by the Netherlands over England in the World Twenty20 opener has raised the morale of fellow-minnows Bangladesh, their captain said today.
The Dutch conjured a four-wicket win against the hosts at Lord's on Friday to give the 12- nation tournament in the sport's shortest format a sensational start.
Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful, whose team takes on defending champions India in a group A match at the Trent Bridge today night, said the Dutch win both delighted and inspired his men.
"It was fantastic to watch them yesterday," he said. "That's what Twenty20 cricket is all about. Forty overs can do anything."
Bangladesh, a Test-playing nation unlike the Netherlands, have disappointed at the top level and lost their last six T20 internationals, 13 of their last 14 Tests and 13 of their last 15 one-day matches.
But they have provided the banana skins that favoured teams have occasionally slipped on, like dealing India a shock first-round exit at the 50-overs-a-side World Cup in 2007.
Later the same year, the West Indies suffered the same fate when they lost to Bangladesh in the inaugural T20 Worlds and failed to make the second round.
Bangladesh's Australian coach Jamie Siddons wanted his team to perform consistently so that no rival regards them as fluke winners.
The Dutch conjured a four-wicket win against the hosts at Lord's on Friday to give the 12- nation tournament in the sport's shortest format a sensational start.
Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful, whose team takes on defending champions India in a group A match at the Trent Bridge today night, said the Dutch win both delighted and inspired his men.
"It was fantastic to watch them yesterday," he said. "That's what Twenty20 cricket is all about. Forty overs can do anything."
Bangladesh, a Test-playing nation unlike the Netherlands, have disappointed at the top level and lost their last six T20 internationals, 13 of their last 14 Tests and 13 of their last 15 one-day matches.
But they have provided the banana skins that favoured teams have occasionally slipped on, like dealing India a shock first-round exit at the 50-overs-a-side World Cup in 2007.
Later the same year, the West Indies suffered the same fate when they lost to Bangladesh in the inaugural T20 Worlds and failed to make the second round.
Bangladesh's Australian coach Jamie Siddons wanted his team to perform consistently so that no rival regards them as fluke winners.