Six memorable World Cup victories for Bangladesh
Bangladesh begin their ICC 2019 Cricket World Cup campaign on Sunday, as the Tigers take on South Africa at The Oval. Before they embark on the World Cup dream, let us take a look at six of the nation’s biggest moments in World Cup history.
1. Bangladesh vs Scotland (1999)
Bangladesh’s first ever win in a World Cup was not only memorable for being the maiden victory, but also for the way the game changed colours over its course.
The Tigers were down to 26 for 5 as their top five batsmen failed to reach double figures, with three of them returning to the pavilion with zero. Minhajul Abedin’s 68 off 116 balls and Naimur Rahman’s 36 off 58 saved the team from a bigger disaster and Enamul Haque’s 19 towards the end meant Bangladesh could post a decent total of 185 for 9.
From the beginning of the Scotland innings, the Bangladesh bowlers were on top and the Scottish side lost three wickets before reaching double figure. Gavin Hamilton refused to give up though, hitting a fifty, and it seemed he along with Alec Davies, who made 32, might cause an upset. But a shot from the latter touched the hand of bowler Manjural Islam before dislodging the wickets at the non-striking end and Hamilton was run out on 63, much to the relief of the Bangladesh fans.
In the end, the Tigers sealed a 22-run win, with Minhajul being named the Man-of-the-Match.
2. Bangladesh vs Pakistan (1999)
Batting first, the Tigers made 223 for 9 as Pakistan bowler Saqlain Mushtaq ran riot with a five-wicket haul. Akram Khan was the team’s top-scorer with 42 while Shahriar Hossain added 39 and Khaled Mahmud 27.
Although he is not very popular with the fans now, this was a game that made Khaled Mahmud a legend.
The medium pacer claimed three of Pakistan’s top five batsmen (who all failed to reach double figure) to leave them five wickets down on 42. The favourites could not master a fightback and the Tigers recorded a historic 62-run win.
Mahmud’s figures were 10-2-31-3 and there was no one else to rival him for the Man-of-the-Match award.
3. Bangladesh vs India (2007)
Mashrafe Mortaza claimed four wickets while Abdur Razzak and Mohammad Rafique grabbed three each as the Tigers bundled India out for 191 after being asked to bowl in this game in Port of Spain.
Saurav Ganguly’s 66 and Yuvraj Singh’s 47 were trumped by three half centuries, hit by Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan.
Mashrafe was named the Man-of-the-Match.
4. Bangladesh vs South Africa (2007)
A brilliant 87 from Mohammad Ashraful led Bangladesh to 251 for 8 in this game after South Africa opted to bowl first in Georgetown.
Tamim Iqbal contributed 38 while Aftab Ahmed hit an entertaining 35 and Mashrafe a 16-ball 25 to make it a decent total.
Although Herschelle Gibbs scored 56, the Bangladesh bowlers were too good for the Proteas as they could only manage 184, succumbing to a 67-run defeat.
Abdur Razzak bagged three in this game, too, while Syed Rasel and Shakib Al Hasan claimed two each.
Ashraful was predictably named the Man-of-the-Match.
5. Bangladesh vs England (2011)
Jonathan Trott and Eoin Morgan both hit fifties, but Bangladesh bowlers restricted the English side to just 225 in this game in Chattogram, after captain Shakib Al Hasan had won the toss.
Shakib, Naeem Islam and Abdur Razzak all claimed two wickets to torment the England batsmen.
Imrul Kayes hit 60 to lead the Tigers to the win while Tamim made 38.
Bangladesh were eight wickets down on 169, but Mahmudullah and Shafiul Islam made 58 in the ninth wicket partnership to bring another sensational win.
Imrul was adjudged the Man-of-the-Match for his fifty.
6. Bangladesh vs England (2015)
This game in Adelaide Oval was one for the legend. Put into bat first, the Tigers made 275 for 7 as Mahmudullah became the first Bangladesh batsman to score a World Cup century.
Mushfiqur Rahim also had a shot at a century, but the wicketkeeper-batsman’s innings was ended on 89.
After Ian Bell had hit 63, England lost their way losing some quick wickets in the middle. Yet Jos Buttler (65) and Chris Woakes (42) looked certain to scale the target successfully.
But Rubel Hossain had other ideas. With the help of Taskin Ahmed, Rubel wreaked a havoc on the English lower order and they fell 15 runs short.
Rubel ended the game with four wickets, but Mahmudullah had to be named the Man-of-the-Match after his batting heroics.