..Tigers Twitted…Saleque Sufi..

..Tigers Twitted..
….Saleque Sufi….

Royal Bengal Tigers are endangered species. But our tigers are making Bengal Bangladesh proud everywhere .Sporting world know Bangladesh for our cricket, our cricket team. After almost three quarter of the first round of World Cup 2015 gone Bangladesh is very much in the contention of the quarter final berth having same points in same number of matches as hot favorite Australia .Bangladesh winning ODI against Scotland cannot be anything to rejoice .But the manner in which they won yesterday surely was something to cheer. The condition, environment favored Scotland .They had been in New Zealand right from the start of the world cup .They spent some time last year in acclimatizing there as well. On a rare bad day of Mashrafee Scotland piled up a huge score of 318 /8 and threw a huge challenge to Bangladesh. Bangladesh lost the service of regular opener Anamul Haque through injury he suffered during the match. Yet Bangladesh produced majestic team efforts and won by 4 wickets with 11 balls to spare. It was the second highest successful run chase by any team in the world cup. For Bangladesh it was highest run chase win in any ODI. Tigers really twitted making all tiger admirers proud.

Mashrafee squad deserves accolade for their magnificent performance. Terrfic Tamim rediscovered his sizzling form, Mahmudullah remained as consistent as ever, Mushfique unleashed his dynamism, and Shakib and Shabbir sparkled. Emerging youth Soumya Sarkar failing with the bat, fielded brilliantly on the day taking four great catches .Bangladesh did not step a foot wrong while chasing a huge score against enthusiastic Scottish bowling .This very attack stifled red hot New Zealand batting in the not too distant past. The win put Bangladesh firmly on the highway of quarter final needing one win from the remaining two matches. Their adversary England has to win both. Bangladesh England match at Adelaide Oval has become a virtual play off as Bangladesh is not expected to beat New Zealand in New Zealand .No one should take Bangladesh for granted though even for that match at Hamilton.

Bangladesh has called tried and tested Imrul Kayes as replacement for injured Anamul Haque reported grade three stress of shoulder joint. Poor Anamul is undergoing treatment in New Zealand .Imrul should have been in the team in place of lesser utility left arm spinner from the beginning in any case . Tiger leader Mashrafee who defied his knee and bowled brilliantly so far is also not sure about the rest of the tournament. But Bangladesh committed suicide in acting hurriedly and harshly in sending young upcoming pacer Al Amin home. May be Shafiul will not a bad choice .But Mashrafis’s inspired spells will be missing at Adelaide.

Talking about the match Bangladesh took a calculated risk in letting Scotland bat on a flat pitch. Unfortunately Mashrafee who bowled so well at Canberra and Melbourne had a rare off day in the office both with the ball and his leadership. Without taking away any credit from brilliant Scottish batsmen we must say Bangladesh did not bowl well as a team though fielding showed lot of commitments and urgencies .The wicket was flat and on a small ground Scots raced to a very challenging total of 318. Coetzer scored a brilliant strokeful 158 and despite his teams’ defeat that earned him man of the match.Momsen, Machan produced handful runs. Mashrafee hobbling with calf injury and a little wayward Rubel leaked runs. Taskin bowled well taking three wickets and Nasir got two. Soumya took four good catches a record for Bangladesh in World cup.

Bangladesh task with a batsman short was well cut out .Moreover the issues compounded when make shift opener Soumya departed early. But terrific Tamim was in his element for the start .His bat was talking and responding to his critics. His delightful cover drives, square drives, cuts and pulls kept runs flowing like fountain. Ever consistent Mahamudullah gave his right company .Riad is making silent big contribution regularly. The pair with 139 runs second wicket partnership laid a solid partnership before Mahamudullah played son scoring a run a ball 62. Tamim failed to convert his brilliant innings to first ever world cup century for Bangladesh. His 95 is however the highest that any Bangladeshi scored in the world cup eclipsing Ashrafuls 87. For the first time in the tournament Majestic Mushfique and Super Shakib came to bat at their right spots at number 4 and 5 and delivered. Mushfique looked like a flowing fountain and Shakib the rock of Gibraltar. Bangladesh never looked like falling behind. Mushy got out after scoring 60. Shakib went on scoring unbeaten 52. Young Sabbir produced yet another classic 42 not out. Bangladesh won handsomely by 6 wickets. Beautiful Nelson heard the roars of Royal Bengal.
Bangladesh will have a do or die match against English lion at Adelaide oval on 9 March 2015. England will be desperate for the kill. They will leave space for Bangladesh to hurt them.

Bangladesh must have right plans and strategy. We have to bowl and field well. The dropping pitch at Adelaide may have something for the spinners. We do not need any extra spinner though. Nasir is already there. I suggest Mominul be there in the team, Kayes will need some time to adjust to new condition. We will be forced to play Shafiul the hero of our victory against England at Chittagong in 2011 World cup. Bangladesh must maintain the momentum and field well. We have brilliant Tamim back in form. We have Shakib, Mushfique and Mahamudullah delivering, we have Sabbir, Soumya and Nasir. Tigers will keep roaring in anger.