Bangladesh's hopes of progressing in the Super Eights stage hang by a thread after a disastrous start. Their 28-run defeat (DLS method) to Australia on Friday leaves them with a mountain to climb.
The loss was a bitter pill to swallow, especially considering Australia's expectedly smooth progression. Their bowling, fielding, and batting were all clinical, leaving Bangladesh dispirited. While the rain interruption ultimately saw Australia win by DLS, the Tigers never truly looked like toppling the Aussies. Chasing 140, they were restricted to 100/2 in 11.2 overs before the rain arrived.
This defeat echoes Bangladesh's inconsistent performances in the group stage. It raises serious questions about their ability to improve and reach the knockout stages. Losing by such a margin leaves them with faint hope, despite having two matches remaining.
Reaching the Super Eights was a good start, putting the semi-finals within touching distance. However, this defeat has dampened optimism considerably. Their next opponent, India (tonight at 8:30 PM BST), are one of the tournament's favourites and a formidable foe. Bangladesh will need to find a new gear, playing with far greater energy and aggression. Otherwise, they risk being overwhelmed throughout the match if they remain lethargic.
Admittedly, expectations were low for Bangladesh's progression after their pre-tournament series loss to the USA. Their qualification for the Super Eights was a hard-fought battle. They relied on their bowling to mask some underwhelming batting performances throughout the group stage. Narrow wins over Sri Lanka and Nepal, along with some nervy moments, were enough to see them scrape through a tough group that also included South Africa.
From the outset of their innings against Australia, it was evident that toppling the Aussies would be a near-impossible task. Their batting order struggled against the tricky bowling of Cummins, Zampa, and Starc, finding themselves under pressure early on and never truly recovering. The Tigers simply haven't been at their best, making every step forward an uphill battle.
