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Bangladesh dedicate victory to dead teammate

Bangladesh dedicated their victory against India to teammate Manjurul Islam who died in an accident overnight.

Skipper Habibul Bashar said this after the match, one of Bangladesh's most famous wins. "A World Cup victory is a World Cup victory," he said, "and this one gives us the chance to get into the second round."

"Had I won the toss we would have bowled," he said, adding that it had been a good toss for him to lose. "When I saw the wicket I was in two minds. The wicket looked good to bat but I wasn't sure."

Of his team's start, when they pegged the Indian batsmen back, he said: "Since we only play two seamers we need to do the job in the early overs, which Mashrafe Mortaza did."

While batting "Tamim Iqbal set the tone and Saqibul and Mushriqul followed from there."

India's captain Rahul Dravid praised Bangladesh's spinners saying they "kept it tight and didn't let us consolidate and then get away." He said he thought the wicket would play better than it did, but "the ball did more than everybody expected and for longer. But we had the quality and we should have done better."

India "were short 25-30 runs" he said. Dravid admired the way Bangladesh's opener Tamim Iqbal played, saying: "he played the shots that set them up."

"We know what we have to do: win two games and we've got our backs to the wall," he said.

It Might Just Be Over For Pakistan At The World Cup As Rain Has Taken Control Of Their Match Against Ireland In Jamaica

Pakistan bowled out for 132
KINGSTON: A pumped-up Ireland bowling attack made full use of a juicy pitch Saturday, bowling Pakistan out for a modest 132 in the World Cup Group D match. Boyd Rankin, a 2-meter (6-feet-7) pace bowler, claimed three for 32 while swing bowler Andre Botha took 2-5 off eight overs and off-spinner Kyle McCallan claimed 2-12. A total of 29 extras made it the most significant contributor for Pakistan as Ireland delivered 23 wides and three no balls. Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal hit 27 but only Imran Nazir (24), Mohammad Yousuf (15) and Mohammad Sami (12) followed him to double figures. The Irish, cheered on by close to 1,500 green-clad fans on St. Patrick's Day, enjoyed the luck of the toss on a grassy surface. David Langford-Smith took a wicket in the first over and Pakistan never fully recovered. Mohammad Hafeez edged to wicketkeeper Niall O'Brien to enliven the Irish effort. Rankin, extracting steep bounce, also began nicely as he claimed Younis Khan for a duck as the Pakistan vice-captain edged to first slip. Nazir and Yousuf mounted a mini-recovery by adding 41 for the third wicket before captain Trent Johnston made a crucial breakthrough. Yousuf slapped a wide delivery straight to backward point. And the Pakistanis soon slumped to 72 for six as skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq, Nazir and Shoaib Malik fell soon afterwards. Inzamam edged to slip off the accurate Botha, who also ended Nazir's innings in similar fashion. Malik was the victim of the brotherly combination of Kevin and Niall O'Brien, wicketkeeper Niall juggling an inside edge before clinging onto a catch off his medium-paced brother. Akmal led a seventh-wicket stand of 31 with Azhar Mahmood but both fell in Rankin's second spell. Mahmood played an unattractive swish and was caught at mid-on by Johnston, who then held a stunner to remove Akmal off a miscued pull. Sami and Rao Iftikhar brought some respectability with a partnership of 25 that propped up the score from an ugly 105-8. But Sami skied a sweep and Umar Gul was caught in the deep as McCallan finished off the innings. SCOREBOARD Pakistan: I. Nazir c Morgan b Botha 24, M. Hafeez c K. O'Brien b Langford-Smith 4, Y. Khan c Botha b Rankin 0, M. Yousuf c Porterfield b Johnston 15, Inzamam c Morgan b Botha 1, S. Malik c N. O'Brien b K. O'Brien 9, K. Akmal c Johnston b Rankin 27, A. Mahmood c Johnston b Rankin 2, M. Sami c Bray b McCallan 12, R. Iftikhar (not out) 8, U. Gul c sub b McCallan 1, Extras: (lb-3, w-23, nb-3) 29; Total (in 45.4 overs) 132. Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-15, 3-56, 4-58, 5-66, 6-72, 7-103, 8-105, 9-130.

Ireland bowling: Langford-Smith 10-1-31-1, Rankin 9-1-32-3, Botha 8-4-5-2, Johnston 7-1-20-1, K. O'Brien 6-0-29-1, McCallan 5.4-1-12-2.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/18/stories/2007031808461900.htm

The Tigers had too much bite with both bat and ball for India Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar set his sights on qualifying for the Super 8 phase after the stunning five-wicket victory over India in Trinidad. "When you are playing against a team like India you have to work hard for it but this is a great victory and will give us a fair chance," he said. Bashar said the team were motivated by the death of spinner Manjural Islam, who was killed in a motorbike accident. "We dedicate this win to our colleague and friend," he said. Bashar admitted he would have bowled first had he won the toss in Trinidad. "We would have bowled but I was in two minds because when I saw the wicket it looked like a good batting track," the veteran skipper said. "But since we've been in the West Indies we know the new ball always does something in the first few overs. "Because we are playing with only two seamers we needed to take a wicket with the new ball and they did a terrific job, then the spinners did a terrific job too." Bangladesh's run chase was given a scintillating start by 17-year-old Tamim Iqbal, who made a pulsating maiden ODI fifty in only his fifth match. "Tamim Iqbal set the tone for the team, he was unruffled today and I hope he can continue this form," the skipper said. Bashar was also full of praise for another teenager, 18-year-old, wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim, whose unbeaten 56 guided his team to victory. "He has a got a good technique and we thought with the new ball doing a good job he's got the right technique and he did just what the team wanted," the veteran captain enthused. Iqbal thrilled the crowd with a sparkling array of attacking strokes. "Our coach and the captain said to play your natural game and that's what I did," said Iqbal, who is 18 on Tuesday. "I like to play lots of shots and it was easier in the second half, the ball was swinging a little but it was very easy to bat." Mashrafe Mortaza was named man-of-the-match for his 4-38 and enjoyed the experience of destroying India's highly talented batsmen. "It was fine, the wicket did well for us and I just tried to bowl in good length areas," he said. "Anything can happen in cricket and I knew I had to bowl line and length." Mortaza clocked in the mid-80mph region but added: "Pace is not my main thing I concentrated on bowling in the right area." http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/6463181.stm

Bangladesh surprise India by five wickets

Port of Spain (Trinidad and Tobago), March 18 (IANS) Putting up an astonishing performance, Bangladesh stunned title contenders India by five wickets in a Group B World Cup match at Queen's Park here Saturday.

India stuttered to 191 all out in 49.3 overs, and Bangladesh made 192 for five wickets for the biggest upset of the ninth edition of the World Cup so far. It was only their second win over India in 15 one-day internationals.

India were champions in 1983 and runners-up in 2003, while Bangladesh have never won the title since the tournament was launched in 1975.

SCOREBOARD

Match No. 8, India vs. Bangladesh, Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

India:

Sourav Ganguly c Razzak b Rafique 66

Virender Sehwag b Mortaza 2

Robin Uthappa c Aftab b Mortaza 9

Sachin Tendulkar c Rahim b Razzak 7

Rahul Dravid lbw b Rafique 14

Yuvraj Singh c Bashar b Razzak 47

Mahendra Singh Dhoni c Aftab b Rafique 0

Harbhajan Singh b Razzak 0

Ajit Agarkar c Rahim b Mortaza 0

Zaheer Khan not out 15

Munaf Patel c Razzak b Mortaza 15

Extras: (leg byes 5, wides 3, no balls 8) 16

Total: (all out in 49.3 overs) 191

Fall of wickets: 1-6 (Sehwag, 2.1 overs), 2-21 (Uthappa, 6.4), 3-40 (Tendulkar, 14.6), 4-72 (Dravid, 24.1), 5-157 (Yuvraj, 42.4), 6-158 (Ganguly, 43.2), 7-159 (Dhoni, 43.5), 8-159 (Harbhajan, 44.2), 9-159 (Agarkar, 45.1)

Bowling:

Mashrafe Mortaza 9.3 2 38 4 (6 no balls, 2 wides)

Syed Rasel 10 2 31 0 (1nb)

Abdur Razzak 10 2 38 3

Saqibul Hasan 10 0 44 0 (1w)

Mohammad Rafique 10 2 35 3

Bangladesh:

Tamim Iqbal c Dhoni b Patel 51

Shahriar Nafees lbw b Khan 2

Mushfiqur Rahim not out 56

Aftab Ahmed lbw b Patel 8

Saqibul Hasan st Dhoni b Sehwag 53

Habibul Bashar st Dhoni b Sehwag 1

Mohammad Ashraful not out 8

Extras: (lb 1, w 4, nb 8) 13

Total: (for 5 wickets in 48.3 overs) 192

Fall of wickets: 1-24 (Nafees, 4.2 overs), 2-69 (Iqbal, 13.2), 3-79 (Aftab, 15.6), 4-163 (Saqibul, 38.4), 5-175 (Bashar, 42.2)

Bowling:

Zaheer Khan 9 2 41 1 (2nb, 1w)

Ajit Agarkar 10 0 41 0 4.10 (2nb)

Munaf Patel 8.3 1 39 2 (1w)

Harbhajan Singh 10 1 30 0

Sachin Tendulkar 3 0 8 0 (1w)

Yuvraj Singh 3 0 15 0

Virender Sehwag 5 0 17 2 (1w)

Result: Bangladesh won by five wickets

Umpires: Aleem Dar (Pakistan) and Steve Davis (Australia)

Third umpire: Ian Howell (South Africa)

Match referee: Alan Hurst (Australia

Sourav Ganguly to India's rescue; Sehwag fails once again S. Ram Mahesh

KNIFE'S EDGE: Opener Sourav Ganguly held the innings together after India had lost four wickets for just 72 runs in its opening World Cup encounter against Bangladesh at Port of Spain on Saturday. Rahul Dravid's side recovered through an 85-run partn ership between Ganguly (66) and Yuvraj Singh (47). India had made 158 for 6 in 43.2 overs. — Photo: AFP Port of Spain: Mashrafe Mortaza's twin strike, augmented by two wickets Bangladesh's left-arm spinners winkled out, left India reeling at 98 for four in 33 overs here on Saturday. Sourav Ganguly (41) and Yuvraj Singh (13) were involved in rebuilding. Virender Sehwag (2), Robin Uthappa (9), Sachin Tendulkar (7), and Rahul Dravid (14) were the batsmen dismissed. Dravid's luck with the toss preceded a torrid period for India's batsmen at the Queen's Park Oval. Mortaza made admirable use of conditions ideal for seam bowling. The early start ensured moisture and cut, the firm track guaranteed carry. Silent homage

PRIZE SCALP: Sachin Tendulkar falls to Abdur Razzak, caught behind by wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim on Saturday. — PHOTO: AFP The Group B match — India's campaign opener — had started on a sombre note. The teams and the match officials lined up outside the pavilion and paid silent homage to Bangladesh's left-arm spinner Manjurul Islam, 22, who had died in a road accident. The air hung heavy. But, soon the action in the middle took over. Mortaza looped the ball to mid on by way of warm up. This preliminary action was so far removed from the jiggle-and-stretch routine most fast bowlers adopt that the sharp pace of the first delivery took everyone by surprise. Sourav Ganguly evaded it by twitching his hips inside the line, but it whistled through at just under 140 kmph. Then, in a moment of tip and run, the players enacted what could have found place on a rugby field. Ganguly did the tipping he was met by an apologetic shoulder tackle from Mortaza, the bowler, as he ran. Meanwhile Sehwag endeavouring to make his ground was taken off his feet by Aftab Ahmed. The third umpire ruled Sehwag's heel had landed favourably. And all was well; temporarily. Good speed
Mortaza bowls like a man his size should. Often one sees big, rough-hewn men resort to the subterfuge of spin. Not Mortaza. His run up, gather, and delivery scream strength. One bouncer, registered at 144 kmph, singed keeper Mushfiqur Rahim's gloves. Ganguly barely had time to duck. But, don't for a moment think it's unrefined muscle and bustle. Mortaza cut one back at pace, Sehwag chopped it on. Six for one. Mortaza's partner on Saturday was the considerably slower Syed Rasel. Rasel, wheedling and treacherous, and Mortaza, mean and threatening, pulled off a canny good-cop-bad-cop act. Lefty and skilled both at cutting it across the right-hander and at shaping it minimal wobble of the seam away from the left-hander, Rasel troubled Uthappa and Ganguly. Uthappa clipped Rasel off his knee for India's first boundary. But, Mortaza had him caught, carving one that hinted away to point. Sachin Tendulkar climbed calmly down the carpeted steps connecting the dressing room to the field, wriggled his fingers into gloves, and joined Ganguly to survey conditions. They were tricky. Tendulkar worked Mortaza to leg, but it wasn't to be his day. Left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak, brought on in the 15th over, slipped one on to the considerable inside edge of the great man's bat. Softened off the pneumatic Tendulkar pad, the edge popped nicely for Rahim. Forty for three. Never the sort to let up on such a ripe opportunity, journalists made unkind references to how tough it was to get air tickets changed at this stage. Ganguly, who had ridden Mortaza's bounce well, was hanging in. Not pretty by any standard let alone his high one for off-side strokes, Ganguly seemed to delight in the stoush. He had charged Mortaza to no avail. He scowled, but didn't give in. Runs at a premium Runs were at a premium. The four overthrows Bangladesh conceded was gravy. Ganguly followed it by cutting the next ball behind point for four his first stroke of authority. Dravid wrapped his bat around a fine flick, but, in 20 overs, India had made just 60. Habibul Bashar briefly yoked his left-arm spinners, Razzak and Saqibul Hasan. Surprisingly, considering the strength of Bangladesh's position, Ganguly was confronted with a four-man infield. Perhaps Ganguly's reputed fondness for left-arm spin played a part. Runs trickled in with fewer risks, and just as it seemed a phase of milking the bowlers would set in, Bashar brought on Mohammad Rafique. Dravid played around his front pad; Rafique's delivery seemed headed only one way. Dravid's quick walk suggested displeasure whether at the decision or at his stroke was unclear. Yuvraj strolled in to start against spin, his least preferred method of commencing an innings.

India decided to play four specialist bowlers. Anil Kumble, Irfan Pathan, S. Sreesanth, and Dinesh Karthik (twelfth man) were omitted.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/18/stories/2007031808511900.htm

India braced for Bangladesh Cup opener

India will need to be on guard when they take on "surprise packets" Bangladesh in their World Cup Group B match on Saturday.

The 1983 champions have somewhat shaken off their 2006 form slump to renew hopes among world cricket's biggest fan base.

However, they are aware they cannot trip up in the tough group also involving Sri Lanka, seen as potential champions, with pitches behaving more like those in the sub-continent.

Bangladesh, ranked ninth in the ICC standings, stand as the odd team out. They are not among the contenders and are also not in the same league as the six non-Test playing teams playing in the Caribbean.

They have also proved they no longer fear the bigger opponents after recording victories over India, Sri Lanka and Australia in recent years.

"(Almost) all teams are better ranked than us. India is just one of them... and we have to contend with that," Bangladesh's Australian coach Dav Whatmore said.

India's concern has been the poor form of explosive batsman Virender Sehwag after struggling left-arm seamer Irfan Pathan took three wickets in the warm-up win over West Indies.

Indian skipper Rahul Dravid has warned against complacency.

"They are a good team," he said. "They've beaten Australia and us in the past. They have the belief.

"In some ways, our group is probably the toughest on these wickets and they can be a handful."

Bangladesh were out of depth in the 2003 World Cup and Sri Lanka's Chaminda Vaas took a hat-trick off the first three deliveries against them.

Whatmore, who guided Sri Lanka to victory in 1996, has since infused confidence in them and dismissed any comparisons with the weaker teams.

"I would like to know what minnows stand for in the Oxford Dictionary, to be very honest," he said.

"Bangladesh could be described as one of the surprise packets."

They certainly surprised third-ranked New Zealand in a warm-up game, with burly tailender Mashrafe Mortaza grabbing four wickets and smashing a match-winning 30 not out off 14 balls to guide his side to a two-wicket win.

As skipper Habibul Bashar highlighted, Bangladesh would be no pushovers.

"After beating New Zealand, we feel we can do it."

http://www.smh.com.au/news/Sport/India-braced-for-Bangladesh -Cup-opener/2007/03/17/1174080198486.html