ICC World Cup 2019 

England Vs Bangladesh played at Sophia Garden Cardiff on 8 June 2019 

Brief Scorecard: England 386/6 (JJ Roy 153, HC Buttler 64, JM Bairstow 51, EJG Morgan 35, Mehidy Miraz 2/67, Saifuddin 2/78) beat Bangladesh 280 (Shakib Al Hasan 121, Mushfiqur Rahim 44, Mahmudullah 28, Mosaddek 26, BA Stokes 3/23, JC Archer 3/29, MA Wood 2/52,)  by 106 runs

Player of the Match: JJ Roy 

DHAKA: Playing aggressive cricket all the way, tournament favorites and ICC top ranked ODI team England exposed the frailty of Bangladesh in a very crucial match of World Cup 2019. Bangladesh bowled poorly and excepting Shakib did not bat well enough for climbing the Sky Scarper England set for them. Inviting England for batting first, friendly fire of Bangladesh bowling could not restrict England setting up a imposing score 386/6 in the allotted overs. The best of Bangladesh in the chase could go as far as 280. England won big by 106. The dream journey of team Tigers in World Cup 2019 approaching quick sand.

England removed the boggey tag from their World Cup match against Bangladesh. In 2011 and 2015 they lost to Bangladesh. This English team is very different. They pack punch in batting, bowl fast and furious. They have made big scoring and chasing large target their habit. Bangladesh with a not too potent bowling attack may win some matches here and there but can not win consistently against big teams. On a green top wicket under cloud cover Bangladesh bowlers failed making any impression on English batting. 

Pacers either bowled too short or too full making run scoring comfortable for English batsmen. Mustafiz can no longer be called an X-factor, Saifuddin leaked too many runs, Mashrafe lost his control. Premiere spinner Shakib could keep English batsmen honest for a while but he too without an able partner from other side could not do much. Their innocuous bowling failed to justify Mashrafe decision of bowling first. All knows the batting strength of England. Keeping Rubel warming the side bench on a pace favoring wicket was not a smart decision 

England and Bangladesh both won their first match against South Africa. England lost to Pakistan and Bangladesh to New Zealand. For keeping their hopes alive Bangladesh required to win against England or go as possible to English score to keep a comfortable run rate. Neither happed. Losing by 106 Bangladesh possibility of reaching the top four has now become extremely difficult. Bangladesh now have to win five from matches against Australia, India, West Indies, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan.

England lost its way against Pakistan. With this big win their world cup mission is back on track. This will give them momentum in their next three matches against Australia, India and New Zealand.
Rain ceased in Cardiff on time but cloud stayed. The green top wicket perhaps misled Bangladesh captain opting to field without assessing the bowling resources and without taking into consideration the strength, diversity of the powerful English batting. Bangladesh does not possess the quality pace attack for exploiting the situation. Finding Rubel not in the side it appeared that he may not be match fit. 

Mashrafe opened the attack with Shakib with himself coming from the other end. The only way Bangladesh could make a match of it was getting early wicket and taking wickets at regular interval. But other than Shakib bowling some tight overs, rest of the bowling made no impression on quality English batting. Roy and Bairstow after sighting the bowling for a while took heavy toll of Bangladesh bowling. The pacers bowled either too short or too full. At friendly pace this made little meaning. 126 was scored in the opening partnership by the 20th over when Bairstow got out trying to force Mashrafe after reaching his half century. Miraz took a good diving catch. Joy continued playing delightful strokes. Though Root failed converting his start with another big score Buttler promoted in the batting order above Morgan let the run machine racing along. 

Roy and Buttler punished toothless Tigers bowling mercilessly. Roy scored a sparkling 153 in 121 deliveries striking 14 fours and 5 sixes. Buttler was equally destructive scoring 64 in 44 deliveries. Mustafiz and Miraz tried to get some control in death overs. But Mashrafe coming to the attack in the death overs leaked valuable runs. Score which appeared to remain below 350 raced to 2386 and Woakes and Plunket blasted in their brief stay plundering 45 runs in the last three overs. The final score of 386 /6 appeared like sky scraper for Bangladesh.  The bowling figures would tell the story 

Miraz 2/67, Mashrafe1/68, Saifuddin 2/78, Mustafiz 1/75 and Shakib 0/71. The decision for letting Powerful English batting burying Bangladesh under huge score proved self defeating. Many thought batting stress free Bangladesh could post a challenging target. Desperate England could make some mistakes.

The target of 387 was way beyond Bangladesh reach especially in consideration of English pace bowling quality and their suitability in the given condition. England posted their highest World Cup score. Bangladesh had to create world cup history to overhaul the target. 
Archer and Wood bowls at 150 plus, Woakes moves at pace, Plunket varies his pace and his cutters grip, Stokes is a deceptive bowler. Bangladesh required a reasonably good start. But Bangladesh openers Tamim and Soumya did neither have the skill nor the temperament to survive the blistering pace of Archer and accuracy of Woakes. 

Soumya had no footwork. One can not stand and deliver all the time. He is not yet Virender Sehwag. Archer cleaned him up with fast teasing delivery. Tamim also was looking tentative though Shakib right from the start appeared determined and confident. Tamim’s stay at wicket was cut short by another fast bowler Wood. Two faithful servants of Bangladesh cricket Shakib and Mushfiq did their best to resurrect the innings. Shakib was unruffled and Mushfiq was giving him good company. Rotating the strokes smartly and striking boundaries regularly they kept the asking rate within sight. They targeted leggie Adil Rashid. 106 runs were added in the third wicket before Mushfiq (44) got out by Plunket. The ball gripped and stopped making Mushfiq playing early. 

Many felt that inform Liton should have replaced Mithun. Mashrafe could promote Mahmudullah in such a situation. Mithun came and left scoring a duck. At 4/170 in the 30th over Bangladesh was still at the game as Shakib was mortaring along with guts and skill. He became the second Bangladesh batsman and the quickest scoring century in the world cup. His 121 in 119 balls had 12 fours and a six. In a situation where his batting partners were struggling to survive his innings was of immense quality. After he left Mahmudullah and Mosaddek tried their best. But the target was well out side the reach. 

Ben Stokes introduced late in the attack wrapped up the tail taking 3/23. Bangladesh innings folded at 280. Many thought Bangladesh instead of trying big strokes could target playing 50 overs batting sensibly at the end for reducing the margin of defeat. 106 runs is huge and may hurt Bangladesh cause if in the final count run rate comes into play for qualifying. Archer, Wood, Plunket, Woakes and Stokes were too hot to handle. Amidst the ruins Shakib alone stood out with his brilliant batting.

All is not lost yet. Though the path has become slippery yet they can regroup and bounce back. Bangladesh has to undertake post mortem of the three matches they played assessing their strength and weaknesses. Tamim is not in his elements, Soumya has very poor technique for playing quality pace attack in seaming condition. Liton should get a game. We do not think Mithun is at all effective. Sabbir may be tried. It is high time Rubel is given a go unless his match unfit. Mahmudullah should bat at five under any circumstances. 

We all like to see Bangladesh keep winning. But we must be realistic. Bangladesh bowling attack does not look like getting many wickets or restricting quality batting of major opposition. Australia, India, West Indies and Pakistan have impact batsmen and explosive power hitters. It will not be easy at all for Bangladesh winning at least 5 of the reaming six matches. Trust Bangladesh leaves World Cup with heads high.

BDST: 0955 HRS, JUN 9, 2019
SI