Putting behind their dismal performance, Bangladesh seek redemption as they take on mighty South Africa in their fifth game of the ICC Cricket World Cup at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Tuesday.
The match starts at 2.30 PM (Bangladesh Time).
Bangladesh's World Cup journey took a massive nosedive after tasting three consecutive defeats following a victory in their opening game against Afghanistan. Now they will face off a team which has been in tremendous form with their batters coming all guns blazing in each and every match.
South Africa posted 428-5 against Sri Lanka, 311-7 against Australia, 207 all out against Netherlands and 399-7 against defending champions England in their last matches, which demonstrated the devastating form of their batters.
But the spot of bother was their defeat against Netherlands, a match in which they could not overhaul the target successfully after Netherlands piled up 245-8. The defeat at the hands of Netherlands was seen as one off incident but that was the only time in the tournament so far when they chased the target. So Bangladesh can take a note that they have shortcomings when they chase the target.
But what is the ominous sign for Bangladesh is that South Africa crushed England by a record 229 runs margin after posting 399-7 at this very venue a few days go. Meantime they also coped with Mumbai's shimmering heat. Bangladesh players on the hand were seen struggling in the scorching heat during their practice session.
Mumbai's short boundary and even bounce made it a batting paradise, much to the despair of Bangladesh which are not used to play in batting favourable wicket or sporting wicket. South Africa's fast bowlers also showed that Mumbai wicket is favourable for fast bowlers if one can bowl intelligently.
Bangladesh basically is used to win matches against big teams, playing slow and low wickets at home. But that was not the case in multinational tournament. In the last three matches they got batting favourable wicket but couldn't post even 270 plus total.
It's a thing that the vice-captain Najmul Hossain Shanto who led the side against India in the last match in absence of Shakib Al Hasan pointed out, saying that they should play in good wicket at home.
"We need to play on a wicket where bounce is even. We need to play on sporting wicket where batters and bowlers will get the advantage."
While Bangladesh can take the confidence from Netherlands victory against South Africa, also the World Cup record could boost their morale. Bangladesh won two and lost two against South Africa in four meetings, which was their best result against a top flight nation in the ICC event. In the last World Cup also, Bangladesh beat a full strength South Africa side, putting up score excess 330.
In 2007 World Cup, Bangladesh beat South Africa, thanks to an exceptional Mohammad Ashraful's 87, which is regarded as still the best knock played by a Bangladeshi batter in World Cup.
Shakib Al Hasan's allround performance played a key role in Bangladesh's victory in the last World Cup. And Shakib might comeback in the match against South Africa after missing India fixture due to his left quad injury.
But Bangladesh will continue to miss fast bowler Taskin Ahmed, who looked not match fit.
Overall the two teams played 24 matches, of which Bangladesh six and lost 18.
South Africa might field an unchanged side, which meant regular captain Temba Bavuma would be absent again. Due to his bad patch, Bavuma dropped himself from the team, handing Aiden Markram the captaincy.
If Shakib returns to the team, Bangladesh would have to bring changes to the squad.
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
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