PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, 27 March 2007 — Bangladesh clinched a seven-wicket victory over Bermuda in a rain-hit match Sunday and secured passage to the World Cup’s Super 8 stage.
Chasing a modest 21-over target after Bermuda tottered to 94 for nine in an innings disrupted four times by rain, Bangladesh reached 96 for three with 21 balls to spare.
The victory earned Bangladesh its biggest World Cup achievement — advancing out of the first round — at its third attempt.
Bangladesh needed just one point from this match to secure second place in the preliminary Group B — behind Sri Lanka and at India’s expense.
“This is a very significant moment for Bangladesh,” coach Dav Whatmore said. “We had the potential to do it, we just needed a bit of luck. We’ve now got the results.”
Whatmore, a former Australia Test batsman, masterminded Sri Lanka’s World Cup triumph in 1996 in the first of his two stints there as national coach before taking the Bangladesh job.
His Bangladesh lineup has not set its sights on the final, yet.
“Making the Super 8s was our target,” captain Habibul Bashar said. “We knew it wasn’t easy, but we also knew we could beat India if we played well.”
India, the 1983 champion and 2003 finalist, lost to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in its worst World Cup performance since 1979.
The loss to undefeated Sri Lanka left India a tiny hope — relying on Bermuda to beat Bangladesh. That was very unlikely, at best.
Although Bermuda pace bowler Saleem Mukuddem (3-19) did cause some concerns, with Bangladesh losing two wickets in 11 deliveries to slide to 37-3.
But an unbroken 59-run stand between Saqibul Hasan (26 not out) and Mohammad Ashraful (29 not out) carried the Tigers to victory.
Put in to bat first after Bashar won the toss, Bermuda’s challenge was undermined by the frequent rain-caused disruptions that saw the overs gradually getting reduced from 50 to 21.
“We did not play good cricket today, it’s always very hard to play in these conditions,” said Bermuda captain Irving Romaine.
“I wish it was a 50-over match. Every time we went back to the field the overs had got reduced — Bangladesh had an advantage as they knew the target to chase.”
The game began as a 41-over aside contest after the start was delayed more than 1 1/2 hours. It was reduced to 35 overs-a-side after Bermuda faced three overs, scoring six runs for the loss of opener Stephen Outerbridge (zero) in three overs.
The second break occurred with Bermuda on 17 for three, having lost Delyone Borden (2) and David Hemp for a duck. Hemp is the only professional in the team. Play resumed with the match reduced to 30 overs and three minutes later another short interruption was caused by a light drizzle, during which the Bangladesh fielders stayed on the boundary line. Bermuda captain Irvine Romaine (11) fell lbw to left-arm spinner Razzak, who went on to claim two more wickets in the last over to return the best figures of 3-20. At 45 for four in 15.1 overs, play was suspended for the fourth time, the longest break during the day. When play resumed, Bermuda tried to hit out during the remaining time, hitting 49 from 35 balls.
