Friday, May 03, 2024
Bangladesh are expected to seal their second victory in the ICC Cricket World Cup when they take on Netherlands in their sixth match of the mega event at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Saturday.
The match starts at 2:30pm (Bangladesh Time).
Bangladesh began the World Cup with a six-wicket win over Afghanistan but thereafter lost four straight matches, which sent them at the receiving end. Nonetheless, a victory against Netherlands is highly expected given the gulf of the difference between the two teams in experience and strength.
Both Netherlands and Bangladesh won one match with the former's 35-run victory against South Africa considered as one of the biggest upset in cricket's history.
Netherlands currently are languished at bottom of the table in net run rate and Bangladesh are one place higher of them in 10-team tournament.
Both of the teams head into this match after suffering a crushing defeat against two different opponents. Netherlands tasted ODI history's second biggest defeat when Australia demolished them by 309 runs after posting a 399-8. Bangladesh conceded 382-5 against South Africa before losing the match by 149 runs.
Bangladesh came into this World Cup with an aim to reach in the semifinals but that hopes are dented following four straight defeats. However, on paper they were clean favourite to win two matches-they had already beaten Afghanistan and now Netherlands are in their way.
Both the teams met only once in cricket's biggest extravaganza in 2011 when Bangladesh co-hosted the tournament alongside India and Sri Lanka. In that edition Bangladesh beat the Dutch by six wickets after dismissing them for just 160 in 46.2 overs. Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad are the only three survivors from that game.
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But Netherlands beat Bangladesh by six wickets in their first ever meeting in 2010. The tomorrow's match so will be their only third meetings in this format.
Netherlands, no doubt, will search inspiration from their victory against South Africa as they would like to upset another applecart.
With honour at stake, Bangladesh will be desperate to end the losing streak in World Cup to give the fans some relief.
Ahead of the match, Bangladesh Captain Shakib Al Hasan, who has been in serious bad patch, returned to Dhaka to work on the technical aspects of his batting with his childhood mentor Najmul Abedin Fahim. He joined the team in Kolkata just ahead of the match.
It is to see if he can hit back to form after working extensively with his mentor. Shakib was booed by the fans in Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium while he was leaving the ground after ending his practice session. The incident was the testament of how disappointed the fans were following Bangladesh's dismal performance.
A result other than a victory against Netherlands surely will leave the country's cricket at hell.
Bangladesh
Shakib Al Hasan (c), Liton Das, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Najmul Hossain Shanto (vc), Tawhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nasum Ahmed, Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam and Tanzim Hasan Sakib
Netherlands
Scott Edwards (c), Max O'Dowd, Bas de Leede, Vikram Singh, Teja Nidamanuru, Paul van Meekeren, Colin Ackermann, Roelof van der Merwe, Logan van Beek, Aryan Dutt, Ryan Klein, Wesley Barresi, Saqib Zulfiqar, Shariz Ahmad and Sybrand Engelbrecht.
