5th Match - South Africa v Bangladesh

[smash84]

I said before the tournament this saffer side is probably the worst in memory going into a world cup. It's just a bad side and I couldn't see them making the semis then and can't see them making the semis now.

 

[Athlai]

Nice.

 

[GoodAreasShane]

Certainly not the result I was expecting, well played Bangladesh

Can this Morris experiment please finally end?

 

[Flem274*]

bangladesh have been a decent odi team for years now and shakib has been the best allrounder in the world in all formats for a significant chunk of his career. 2015 were the worst possible conditions for them.

if this was in the subcontinent i'd have pegged them as semi finalists pre-tournament. they've got more star power and a more solid team than ****ing sri lanka.

they're not getting near the final in england but they're a solid 5-8 side.

 

[stephen]

Well played Bangladesh.

South Africa looked awful and out of ideas right from the start. They were frankly terrible in the field - the worst I've ever seen them. Ngidi was rubbish with the ball and then got injured. Rabada had an off day. The other SA pace bowlers weren't too bad though. Tahir was expensive but got wickets.

Bangladesh batted very well and made sure one wicket never turned into two or three.

I didn't see the batting innings but it looked like SA really needed one guy to go on. You can't punish a batting lineup too much when nearly everyone gets 40+. With even one batsman going on they'd have chased properly.

 

[MW1304]

My exclusive prediction of no side getting within 20 while chasing a score greater than 320 still on point. Just.

Saffers probably down for now. Going to be a very tough road to the semis from here.

There's a lot of games in this tournament, and it's a country with a propensity for flat pitches in recent years. Not panned out much so far but it's bound to happen down the line. Can't see how there won't be a big score chased down at some point.

 

[Zinzan]

Congrats Bangers, just watched the SA innings this morning.

Interesting question to ponder; Are Bangers carrying their inspirational skipper, who I see bowled just 6 overs, going for overs 8s, or was it just a bad day at the office for him? He is in his mid 30s and his knees are completely gone IIRC.

 

[GoodAreasShane]

Congrats Bangers, just watched the SA innings this morning.

Interesting question to ponder; Are Banger's carrying their inspirational skipper, who I see bowled just 6 overs, going for overs 8s, or was it just a bad day at the office for him? He is in his mid 30s and his knees are completely gone IIRC.

I've long been a fan of Methuselah Mortaza, but his best days as a bowler are certainly long behind him, as you pointed out his knees are cactus these days. Frankly it is mainly down to his almost Imranesqe fight and determination that he is still chugging along to this day

 

[Zinzan]

I've long been a fan of Methuselah Mortaza, but his best days as a bowler are certainly long behind him, as you pointed out his knees are cactus these days. Frankly it is mainly down to his almost Imranesqe fight and determination that he is still chugging along to this day

Tough one I guess, I'd be tempted to bring Rubel in for Mortaza assuming he's fit, and have Rahim take the captaincy. But I equally get the argument, that if it ain't broke, don't fix it, and they did just beat SA under Mortaza.

 

[TimAngas]

Interesting stat: the Bangladesh top 7 for this match were 7 of the top 8 Bangladesh batsmen by ODI batting average (min 10 innings). Just illustrates this really is the best BD side ever and in with a legit chance to make semis.

 

[GoodAreasShane]

To drop Mortaza mid tournament when nobody has given more to Bangladesh cricket over the course of their career would be a true kick in the guts, if they did that I would hope they lose every game by 250+ runs

As a bowler he may be past it, but as a leader nobody else at their disposal comes even remotely close

 

[TimAngas]

Furthermore since the beginning of 2015 the averages for Tamim, Mushfiqur, Shakib and Mahmudullah are 52.56, 48.68, 39.45, 38.18 respectively which stacks up well against the best top orders around. Add in an in form Soumya who's in ridiculous hitting form and you're looking elite.

 

[Burgey]

SA need to get Steyn back in the side ASAP. They need to attack and take wickets now they find themselves in this position. Get them crazy eyes back in the side.

 

[tooextracool]

Not to mention that there is some serious experience in this side - Tamim, Mortaza, Mushfiqur and Shakib are all playing in their fourth world cup.

 

[Burgey]

There's a lot of games in this tournament, and it's a country with a propensity for flat pitches in recent years. Not panned out much so far but it's bound to happen down the line. Can't see how there won't be a big score chased down at some point.

I don't believe it is bound to happen. I believe the pressure associated with chasing big scores in a WC compared with doing so in the Gillette Max 3/ Singer Trophy/ Shell Who Gives a **** Cup will be telling. And given the format, that pressure is only going to increase given there's no super sixes stage where you can get your crap together and jag a semi spot, a la Australia in 99. You need to have your **** together pretty much from the get go or you find yourself in SA's position now where they're staring down India this week, and if they lose they're basically cactus less than seven days into the tourney. That **** counts.

 

[Burgey]

Not to mention that there is some serious experience in this side - Tamim, Mortaza, Mushfiqur and Shakib are all playing in their fourth world cup.

Just watching some highlights now. Terrific batting innings from Bangladesh. Really deserved that win.

 

[Zinzan]

To drop Mortaza mid tournament when nobody has given more to Bangladesh cricket over the course of their career would be a true kick in the guts, if they did that I would hope they lose every game by 250+ runs

As a bowler he may be past it, but as a leader nobody else at their disposal comes even remotely close

Yeah, you're probably right.

 

[mr_mister]

I mean having a passenger/specalist captain in the batting order like Brearley is one thing but a passenger who's meant to push through ten overs is a bit different. Unless he does a Sammy and doesn't bowl lol

 

[Kirkut]

Forget SA, Bang bros will be the ones we must fear now. The wounds of Dhoni run out in 2016 T20 WC, Nidahas embarrassment and Lankan fans adding salt to wounds with cobra dance, the conspiracy theory that Rohit was out to a fair delivery but BCCI flexed their biceps/triceps/quadriceps to make it a no ball in 2015 WC, all are fresh from farm. Not even Pakistan is as desperate to beat us as they are...

 

[Kirkut]

Okay, I just checked we'll be playing them on July 2nd. Well....plenty of time to go to get worried.