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Untitled Document
 Bangladesh hammer last nail in India's coffin
26th Mar 2007 12:24 IST
Agencies
India's slender hope for a Super Eight berth was buried under the 22-yard track of the Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad on Sunday with Bangladesh thumping Bermuda by seven wickets to reach the next level of the World Cup.
Coached by master strategist Dav Whatmore, Bangladesh continued their dream run in the tournament and after restricting Bermuda to 94/9 in the rain-truncated 21-overs-a-side tie, they cruised past the target in 17.3 overs.
Sri Lanka had earlier booked their Super Eight berth from this group.
Meanwhile, with just one win to show as against two defeats, India were left to hope against hopes and pray for Bermuda's win in this final Group B match but it was not to be.
It was end of all roads for the Indian side, which recorded its lone win against Bermuda and went down to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka for an early exit.
On the contrary, Bangladesh advanced to the second stage of the quadrennial event for the first time since gaining ODI status in 1985-86 and in their third appearance at the World Cup.
Chasing the target, Bangladesh did have a shaky start when they were reduced to 37/3 in the eighth over but Mohammad Ashraful and Saqibul Hasan secured the team's passage to the second round with an unbroken 59-run fourth-wicket partnership.
Ashraful hit an unbeaten 29 while Hasan was 26 not out.
The match was reduced to 21-overs-a-side after the start was delayed by 2-1/2 hours followed by four rain stoppages, the last of them about an hour and 25 minutes.
Earlier, Bermuda put up a spirited batting performance by smashing 49 runs in the last six overs to set a respectable target.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Dean Minors (23) and Lionel Cann (16) led a late charge that produced 49 runs from the last six overs for Bermuda.
Opener Oliver Pitcher made a patient 22 to steer the innings out of early trouble.
Right-arm pacer Mashrafe Mortaza (2/8) made early inroads while left-arm spinners Abdul Razzaq (3/20) and Saqibul Hasan (2/12) did the damage towards the end.
Bangladesh began their chase nervously, losing the talented Tamim Iqbal for one.
But Bermuda kept leaking runs through wides and no balls and so, even though Shahriar Nafees (12) and Aftab Ahmed (7) departed early, 37 was on the board in just over seven overs.
A couple of meaty blows by Ashraful brought up the 50.
There was more bad luck for Bermuda when Pitcher, attempting a high catch from Ashraful on the run at mid-on, hurt himself and was stretchered off.
Ashraful lived dangerously when he pulled Dwayne Leverock and the half-chance eluded David Hemp at midwicket.
The game began as a 41-over aside contest after the start was delayed more than 1 1/2 hours. It was reduced to 35 overs-a-side after Bermuda faced three overs, scoring six runs for the loss of opener Stephen Outerbridge (zero) in three overs.
The second break occurred with Bermuda on 17/3, having lost Delyone Borden (2) and David Hemp for a duck. Hemp is the only professional in the team.
Play resumed with the match reduced to 30 overs and three minutes later another short interruption was caused by a light drizzle, during which the Bangladesh fielders stayed on the boundary line.
Bermuda captain Irvine Romaine (11) fell lbw to left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak, who went on to claim two more wickets in the last over to return the best figures of 3/20.
At 45/4 in 15.1 overs, play was suspended for the fourth time, the longest break during the day.
When play resumed, Bermuda tried to hit out during the remaining time, hitting 49 from 35 balls. |
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