Hapless Tigers running out of hope
The word 'humiliation' feels insufficient in describing the ordeal Bangladesh suffered at the hands of South Africa yesterday at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
The Bangladesh team got outclassed, outplayed and outperformed by the Proteas in every aspect of the game and suffered a crushing defeat.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Surprisingly, the Tigers had actually started the match quite well, as they had managed to tie up a ferocious South African top order to 44-2 in the first powerplay.
But sadly for Bangladesh, the morning did not show the day.
The Proteas recovered from the slow start and reached 238-3 after 40 overs with a Quinton ton-up de Kock and a well-set Heinrich Klaasen in the middle.
In the next 10 overs, de Kock, who hit his third ton in the tournament, Klaasen and David Miller wreaked havoc.
Twenty-one out of the last 60 legal deliveries went for either a four or a six as Bangladesh conceded 144 runs off the last 10 overs.
The apparent ease with which the South Africa batters punished the bowlers, dispatching even good deliveries to the ropes, signified the difference in ability of the two sides.
The Bangladesh bowlers can't be blamed for not trying, but on a barren pitch, they didn't have the resources to stem the South African onslaught.
The batters, however, showed no fight in the second innings as they had seemingly already surrendered to their fate.
Such a defeat is sure to take a toll on the Tigers. But in a tournament like the World Cup, teams don't get time to dwell on their misery for too long and must look ahead at what's next.
Even though there is a slight mathematical chance of a semifinal qualification, realistically, Bangladesh's hopes are already dashed.
However, The Tigers still have a chance to make this their best ever World Cup in terms of wins.
Bangladesh have never won more than three matches in a World Cup. They need two victories to match that and three to cross it.
Bangladesh's next three opponents are the Netherlands, Pakistan and Sri Lanka— teams they would fancy their chances against.
But to do that, first Bangladesh have to find a way to look past the embarrassment against South Africa.
Comments