Well, I don't want to say 'I told you so' but ..... I will! First the dramatic defeat of South Africa and now the limp loss to Bangladesh, England have had a rollercoaster week. Just like the previous week, in fact! All five of their matches have seen tense finales, but they have emerged with an even set of results: two wins, two ,losses and a tie. OK, so not bad really. But the ridiculous scenario of beating South Africa and (just) the Netherlands, tieing with India and losing to Ireland and Bangladesh could hardly have been predicted. For the neutral, England's matches have provided marvellous entertainment and today's game kept the World Cup dream alive not just for Shakib's team but also the millions of cricket fans around the country and Chittagong in particular. It also means that qualification for the quarter-finals may not be settled until the very last Group B game on Sunday week, although after their disappointing start, Bangladesh really need to win both their final fixtures against the Dutch (highly probable) and South Africa (unlikely) to have a hope of getting through. Nevertheless, the England v West Indies match in Chennai next Thursday could prove crucial and should be the must-have ticket for any cricket fan in India.
As for today, well it must have been a real nerve-jangler for anyone watching, either at the ground, on TV or just following online, as I was. England's total of 225 all out didn't look particularly challenging, but that's what we thought about their much lower score against South Africa and we know what happened then. Only the returning Eoin Morgan and the ever-dependable Jonathan Trott made more than 18 runs and both topped 60. Their normal roles were reversed, with Morgan hitting the boundaries and Trott working the ball through and around the outfield for ones and twos. Abdur Razzaq was the pick of the bowlers, with 2-32, including two maidens delivered to Trott and an out-of-sorts Ian Bell.
Tamim Iqbal got his side's innings off to a great start, and the 21 year-old looked back to his brilliant best, especially against Jimmy Anderson. He's scored 38 out of 52 when he played across one from Tim Bresnan and was bowled. The home crowd were silenced soon after as the score reached 73-3. The run rate was still good and skipper Shakib and Imrul Kayes demonstrated admirable patience, keeping the scoreboard ticking over without resorting to risky slogs. While they were at the crease, a Bangladesh victory looked possible. I remarked to a colleague at work that once the partnership was broken, the side would collapse. And that's exactly what happened - up to a point.
After putting on 82, the opener ran himself out going for a daft second against Shahzad's throw from deep square leg, and then the predictable panic set in. Bresnan, Collingwood and Swann imposed a mid-innings stranglehold on the batsmen and the wickets began to tumble. 155-3 swiftly became 179-8 and another promising upset looked set to fizzle out like a cheap firework on a damp November evening. It happened to Ireland against the West Indies a few hours earlier and history looked set to repeat itself.
Mahmadullah didn't look like a man seeking to pepper the boundary but with the seamers keeping it tight they decided to target Swann in his last over, and it proved decisive. Many local fans had already departed, but they must be cursing themselves. Shafiul Islam heaved the spinner's fourth and sixth balls towards long on, one for four then for the game's only six. Three miserly overs followed but when a leg-side ball from Anderson evaded batsman and Matt Prior for five - count 'em, five! - wides, the Bangladesh players must have felt luck was on their side again. The over lasted nine deliveries and then Shafiul tonked two wayward efforts from Bresnan to the boundary. Just twelve now needed from three overs yet surely Anderson could produce the two swinging yorkers needed to end the run chase and give England the win. But no! The tailenders held firm and it was the patient Mahmadullah who struck the winning cover drive. They'd done it at last!
England and the West Indies will surely qualify from Group B with India and South Africa but at least Bangladesh can hold their heads up high after this spectacular triumph.
