Tigers come roaring back in Chittagong

Bangladesh's ninth-wicket pair sends England crashing to two-wicket defeat.

CHITTAGONG:

Bangladesh’s ninth-wicket pair of Mohammad Mahmudullah and Shafiul Islam hammered 58 runs to send England crashing to a two-wicket defeat in the World Cup.

The Tigers appeared down for the count when they plunged to 169 for eight in the 40th over chasing a modest target of 226 in the day-night game at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium in Chittagong. But Mahmuddullah (21*) and Shafiul (24*) conjured an unlikely victory in front of 18,000 screaming home fans to resurrect Bangladesh’s campaign in the tournament they are co-hosting with India and Sri Lanka.

Bangladesh, who have four points from as many games, must still beat the Netherlands and South Africa to ensure a place in the quarter-finals from Group B. England remained on five points from five matches, a point behind the West Indies who have played a game less.

Disappointed England
captain falls short

“We wanted to win this game and win it well,” said England captain Andrew Strauss.

“We struggled a little bit with the bat although I thought 225 was a competitive total. We needed to bowl and field well but didn’t do that as well as we would have liked.

“We got ourselves in a great position to win the game but in the end we couldn’t take those final two wickets.”

Bangladesh captain heaps praise on team

Bangladesh captain Shakibal Hasan praised his unlikely match-winners.

“I thought Mahmudullah and Shafiul batted exceptionally well,” said Shakib.

“At one stage we thought we’d lost the game but they showed their character, how tough they are and how hard-working,” said Shakib.

Opener Imrul Kayes top-scored with 60, adding 82 runs for the fourth wicket with captain Hasan (32), to lift the home side to 155 for three in the 31st over.

A thriller night for 18,000 fans

England hit back to take five wickets for 14 runs, before Mahmuddullah and Shafiul smashed pace and spin alike to seal a dramatic win with one over to spare.

England paid dearly for bowling 23 wides as the late evening dew made it difficult for bowlers to grip the ball. Jonathan Trott and Eoin Morgan were the only England batsmen to defy Bangladesh’s spinners, scoring half-centuries before their team was dismissed for 225 in the final over.

Trott hit 67 and left-hander Morgan, who arrived in Chittagong on Tuesday to replace the injured Kevin Pietersen, made an immediate impact with a fluent 63 off 72 balls. The duo put on 109 for the fourth wicket after England, sent in to bat by Shakib on a sluggish pitch, slipped to 53 for three in the 17th over.

The partnership was broken by a brilliant catch from Kayes. Morgan’s dismissal triggered a collapse in which England lost their last seven wickets for 63 runs after being well-placed at 162 for three in the 39th over.

Naeem finished with two for 29 from eight overs, and left-arm spinners Abdur Razzak and Shakib also claimed two wickets each.

Out in bizarre fashion

Matt Prior, England’s new opener in place of Pietersen, made 15 when he was dismissed in bizarre fashion, stumped by his Bangladesh counterpart Mushfiqur Rahim off Razzak’s first delivery. Rahim removed the bails off a wide ball down the leg-side, but even though Prior had dragged his back foot in just in time, he again wandered out of his crease.

Seeing the batsman out of his ground, a quick-thinking Rahim pulled out a stump to ensure the decision, which was referred to the TV umpire, went in his favour.

Bangladesh next play the Netherlands in Chittagong on Monday, while England clash with the West Indies in Chennai next Thursday.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 12^th, 2011.