Dismal batting behind Tigers' poor performance

They need to win all their remaining four matches to stand a chance of qualifying for the semis

FE Team | Published: October 25, 2023 22:38:56

Bangladesh's hopes to seal the semifinal spot, which was their primary target in the Cricket World Cup almost ruined after their crushing 149-run defeat to South Africa for their fourth straight loss at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Tuesday, report agencies.
Bangladesh opened the World Cup with a six-wicket victory against Afghanistan but thereafter lost their game to England, New Zealand and hosts India. Currently, they are sitting at the root of the table with just 2 points after five matches.
With two points after five matches, the Tigers are in deep trouble. They will play Netherlands (October 28), Pakistan (October 31), Sri Lanka (November 06) and then Australia (November 11) to end their group stage campaign.
Now they have only one outside chance to qualify for the semifinals. That is to win their next four matches and then hope for a few slumps from Australia, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Having already played India, New Zealand and South Africa, Bangladesh will have to let these three teams qualify and win their next matches, so that Bangladesh can qualify as the 4th team for the semifinals. They need New Zealand beat Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Australia, South Africa beat Pakistan, Afghanistan and India beat Sri Lanka, Netherlands, England.
With England, Pakistan and Australia set to play each other, Bangladesh can still get enough leeway to get themselves sneak in at the fourth place.
Even reaching 10 points doesn't guarantee them a 4th spot as they will also have to boost their Net Run Rate in order to get ahead of the other teams.
If Bangladesh lose any more matches in the group stages, they are out of the tournament.
Let's looks where things have been going wrong for Shakib Al Hasan's men in the 50-over game.
In the match against South Africa, Mahmudullah Riyad displayed remarkable courage by scoring 111 runs from 111 balls, achieving his fourth century in 225 ODIs and his first in six years. Unfortunately, the rest of the Bangladesh batting lineup struggled on a pitch that still favored batsmen.
Bangladesh faced a daunting task of chasing down 383 runs, but their top order crumbled under the pressure of the South African bowling attack. With only 34 runs on the board and four wickets down at the end of the powerplay, Bangladesh's hopes were fading.
In the match against England, Bangladesh were able to pile up 227 before being all out in 48.2 overs with Liton Das hitting form, scoring 76 off 66. Mushfiqur Rahim was the other notable scorer with 51. Bangladesh suffered a massive 137-run defeat to defending champions England. England scored 364-9.
In that match, after Liton got the side off to a decent start, but Topley removed Tanzid Tamim and in form Najmul Hossain Shanto in consecutive deliveries.
He then claimed the wicket of skipper Shakib Al Hasan, leaving Bangladesh at 26-3. And when Woakes got the better of Mehidy Hasan Miraz (8), the Tigers were on tricky 49-4.
Liton and Mushfiqur Rahim who made 51 shared 72-run for the third wicket stand before Woakes returned to his second spell to take the wicket of the former who smashed seven fours and two sixes in his innings.
Later Towhid Hridoy made a laborious 39 to only reduce the margin of the defeat but England's run rate got a much-needed boost.
In another match against New Zealand, Bangladesh piled up 245-9, a score that New Zealand chased effortlessly with 248-2 in 42.5 overs.
A yet another abysmal batting show scripted Bangladesh's wicket eight-wicket defeat to New Zealand.
Mushfiqur Rahim scored 66 off 75 with six fours and two sixes to lead the charge for Bangladesh after a familiar top order collapse.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh slipped to third straight defeat in the ICC Cricket World Cup when India crushed them by seven wickets. Riding on half-centuries from openers Liton Das and Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Bangladesh piled up a respectable 256-8.
Liton and Tanzid paved the platform of a good total, adding 93 runs, which was their highest score in the opening stand in World Cup history. But despite a good start, Bangladesh failed to cash in on it as India bowlers came back strongly to stifle the Tigers in the middle over.
Mahmudullah Riyad hit 34 ball-46 with three fours and as many sixes toward the end to help Bangladesh finish on high. Mushfiqur Rahim was the other notable scorer with 38.
Bangladesh lost their game matches, vastly due to their listless batting effort.
After losing against New Zealand, Bangladesh vice-captain Najmul Hossain Shanto lamented poor batting show in the first 10 overs, saying that it cost them the match as they suffered an eight-wicket defeat. "We didn't start well. We batted poorly even in the last game (against England) in the first 10-15 overs," Shanto said after the match.
After the match against South Africa, Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan lamented a consistent poor batting of the top order batters, saying that they need to hit back to form if they want to make a strong finish in the ICC Cricket World Cup.
Bangladesh had big hopes coming into the ICC World Cup 2023, but it has all proven a damp squib for them. The Tigers have had a dismal campaign so far and are currently languishing at the bottom of the table.
Bangladesh left out their star batter Tamim Iqbal at home, which created a lot of stir in the country. And amid that, the team has struggled in India.