Bangladesh, from whipping boys to giant-killers by AFP

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Scorecard:	Bangladesh v Bermuda
Event:	ICC World Cup 2006/07

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DateLine: 26th March 2007

 

When Saqibul Hasan lofted Bermudian spinner Dwayne Leverock for a winning four here on Sunday, Bangladesh had plenty of reasons to smile.

 

With victory achieved in the semi-darkness of the Queen's Park Oval, Bangladesh completed a seven-wicket win to qualify for the World Cup second round for the first time since making their Cup debut in England in 1999.

 

Such was the enormity of the achievement that India, the 1983 champions and one of the favourites this time round, were knocked out as a consequence.

 

Considered the whipping boys of international cricket in their initial years, Bangladesh had never gone past the first round as they won two matches in England and none in the next edition in South Africa in 2003.

 

It was also a big day for coach Dav Whatmore, who has transformed Bangladesh into a highly competitive unit. It was a tribute to his skill that his side exceeded expectations in the four-team group.

 

Bangladesh turned the form-book upside down with a five-wicket win over India in their opening match before defeating debutants Bermuda in their last.

 

Whatmore has already done wonders with Sri Lanka, playing a crucial role as coach to help Arjuna Ranatunga's team clinch the 1996 World Cup. But he said the Sri Lankan title-triumph was something "different."

 

"It is very significant for us (to reach the Super Eights). We had the potential to do well and we also needed a little bit of luck to get results," said Whatmore.

 

"This game was the most difficult as we had to win it to qualify. To play 20 overs in such conditions and chasing that score was not easy. It was the most difficult situation to qualify."

 

The match was reduced to 21-overs-a-side due to rain before Bangladesh successfully chased a target of 96 with 21 balls to spare for their second win.

 

The victory also condemned India, the financial superpower of the sport, to an early exit.

 

Only a Bermudian win could have helped India advance to the next round after they suffered defeats against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

 

Bangladesh were in a tough group, considering they had beaten India and Sri Lanka just once each before the tournament.

 

They had enjoyed a couple of wins against big teams, but lacked consistency.

 

They shocked world champions Australia in a triangular series match in England a few years ago and then beat India and Sri Lanka at home. But these were only an exception rather than a rule.

 

Whatmore said confidence was the main difference between this Bangladeshi side and the previous ones.

 

"There is more self-belief. The Bangladeshi side of two or three years ago might not to be able to overhaul the target of 192 against India," he said, referring to his team's win against Rahul Dravid's side while chasing the target.

 

"A lot of these boys are willing to work a lot harder out in the middle in difficult periods. That's the main difference."

 

Bangladesh wasted no time in reminding their critics that they had the team this time to slay giants, India being their first victims.

 

India boasted a star-studded batting line-up in Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag and Sourav Ganguly, but were found wanting against an inspired Bangladeshi attack.

 

The young Bangladeshi batsmen then completed the job as Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim and Saqibul all hit solid half-centuries to help their team pass the Indian total.

 

Fast bowler Mashrafe Mortaza and left-arm spinners Mohammad Rafique and Abdur Razzak provided vital breakthroughs in their team's victories against India and Bermuda.

 

Skipper Habibul Bashar wasn't too surprised, saying he knew his team had the potential to do well.

 

"Our main target was to reach the Super Eights. It wasn't easy, but we had the potential to beat either India or Sri Lanka. We worked very hard and played good cricket here."

(Article: Copyright © 2007 AFP)