It was another dismal performance for the Tigers in the fifth match of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 against South Africa on Tuesday at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Bangladesh fell to South Africa by 149 runs after chasing a mammoth target of 382 runs and were bowled out for just 233 runs.
But the way Tigers surrendered to South Africa was truly surprising, as they are not a team that would give up without a fight.
However, so far, the Tigers have not proven their class in this World Cup.
Neither the bowler nor the batsman showed their talent in any of the matches they played in the ongoing tournament but it was only in the opening match that they showed promise but was unable to maintain the momentum as it suffered four consecutive defeats and couldn't play the kind of cricket they should have been playing at that level.
Now they will have to bounce back in the rest of the four matches, they will take on Netherlands on Saturday that would be the ideal match.
It is not like that Bangladesh players have no capability to fight against the big opponents but there are so many strong evidence of their spirits they show in several times in several occasions with overpowering the powerhouses.
There is a pleasing memory of 2019 that can be highly appreciated, when the Tigers have a brilliant win against South Africa just in the previous ICC Men's Cricket World Cup in England. At the Kennington Oval (Kia Oval), London both the Bangladesh batters and bowlers dominated over their South African counterparts in all departments to win a 639 runs thriller when they scored 330 runs after batting first and bowled out them to grab a 21-run victory..
But against the same opponents, after a four-year interval Tigers went down embarrassingly to South Africa. Although five players played against South Africa in 2019, including two established batsmen Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad, and two all-rounders, Shakib Al Hassan and Mehidy Hassan Miraz and pitcher Mustafizur Rahman, suffered a humiliating defeat. South Africa also has 5 players in the squad participating in this 2019 World Championship including De Kock, Dussen, Markman, David Miller and Rabada.
On this occasion (2019), De Kock scored 23 runs and this time he scored 174 runs, while Mushfiqur Rahim scored 78 and Shakib Al Hassan scored 75 runs and Mahmudullah Riyad was unbeaten on 46 runs in this match.
This time, apart from Mahmudullah Riyad (111), Mushfiqur (8), Shakib (1), no one could perform to their potential.
Meanwhile, Nazmul Hossain Shanto.. Mehidy Miraz, Towhid Hirody, with openers Litton and Tanzid, none of them had consistent execution.
Now, in the remaining four matches, they will need to be more confident to regain their glory and will have a chance when they face the Netherlands tomorrow at Eden Garden in Kolkata.
