Bangladesh might have won by 15 runs against England yesterday at Adelaide Oval to ensure a quarterfinal berth, but at one point in their innings the Tigers were struggling at 8/2. From that potentially devastating position, the Bangladesh batsmen crafted a brilliant comeback to post 275/7 from their allotted 50 overs.
A match-saving 141-run association for the fifth wicket between Mahmudullah (103 off 138 balls) and Mushfiqur Rahim (89 off 77 balls) ensured the Tigers would have a competitive total to defend.
Mahmudullah smashed a scintillating hundred under immense pressure while Mushfiq once again showed why he is considered one of the best batsmen of the side as his quickfire innings enabled Bangladesh to go well beyond 250.
Mahmudullah and Mushfiq’s recovery act was appreciated by all quarters, including English great Geoffrey Boycott, who was glowing in his praise for the Bangladesh batsmen.
Boycott does not usually mince his words so to hear good things from him regarding the Bangladesh team yesterday was actually a sight to behold.
“I think the centurion played a good knock along with Mushfiqur Rahim today (yesterday),” said Boycott.
The 74-year old though said the Tigers should have capitalised more in the death overs as they scored only 38 runs in their last five overs.
“I think you guys were 40-50 runs short today (yesterday) as the pitch here offers a lot of runs to the batters. You should have scored some more runs at the latter part of the innings, especially the last five overs,” he said.
Boycott did not forget to have a go at the English cricketers and informed that they were lacking great players in their side.
“This England side do have some good and handy cricketers but they do not have any great cricketers who can actually take this English side to the next level,” he said.
The English legend has been suffering from throat cancer for quite some time now. However, he is recovering well and said, “Touch-wood I am fine now.”
A cheerful Boycott then made his way to the commentary box and kept on entertaining his fellow colleagues, perhaps being totally unmindful of what would transpire later.
