Bangladesh will play England in their 5th Pool-A match of the ICC Cricket World Cup on Monday at Adelaide Oval in Australia with an aim to seal their quarterfinal berth in the mega event. The match will kick off at 9:30 am (Bangladesh time).
The high-morale Tigers will meet a struggling England with a sweet memory of beating them in their last World Cup meeting, driven by unbelievably passionate fans on home soil in Chittagong in 2011.A repeat of that result (2011) will enable Bangladesh to seal the last-eight berth while force England to fly home after completing the formalities in its last encounter against Afghanistan.
Having five points from four matches with two wins against associated members Afghanistan and Scotland in the ongoing World Cup, Bangladesh are morally boosted enough to beat off-coloured England.
In case of a defeat against England, the Tigers’ will have to do a gigantic task of beating the group leader cum co-hosts New Zealand in their last group battle scheduled for March 13 at Seddon Park, Hamilton for the quarterfinal berth.
Two co-hosts New Zealand and Australia have already confirmed their quarterfinal berths securing 10 and 7 points respectively from five matches each.
On the other hand, Sri Lanka bagged 6 points from five matches while Bangladesh 5 points from as many matches and England managed 4 points from four matches.
Bangladesh started their ongoing World Cup campaign beating Afghanistan by 105 runs at Manuka Oval, Canberra on February 18 and lost to Sri Lanka by 92 runs at Melbourne Cricket Ground on February 26 after sharing one point each with Australia in a day-night match that was washed out at Brisbane on February 21.
Bangladesh and England played 15 ODI matches where England enjoyed upper hand advantage beating Bangladesh on 13 occasions against two defeats.
In their last World Cup meeting at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong in 2011, Bangladesh beat England by two wickets in the group stage after conceding a four-wicket defeat in the Super-8 phase of the 2007 World Cup at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados.
The Tigers earned a comprehensive six wickets victory over Scotland in the ongoing ICC World Club with their highest-ever (in the World Cup) chase record of 318 to stay in the quarterfinal race.
Imrul Kayes who replaced injured Anamul Haque is likely appear in the final eleven.
The drop-in pitch at the Adelaide Oval might not necessarily be an ally, but if there is any purchase to be had or if the pace is slightly dodgy and the bounce a little uneven, Bangladesh could have the edge over England.
This is a massive game for the Mashrafe Mortaza’s side. The skipper himself has recovered adequately from the calf strain that left him hobbling during the Scotland victory, and has a solid core group of seniors to fall back on, among them his predecessors – and successors – as captain, Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim. Tamim Iqbal rediscovered run-scoring touch in time against Scotland, while Mahmudullah at no 3 has proved to be an excellent move.
Bangladesh was put in Pool A of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 along with co-hosts Australia and New Zealand, England, Sri Lanka and two associated members –Afghanistan and Scotland. – unb
