Bangladesh managed a strong total after an ordinary start against USA in Bloemfontein. England struggled throughout their innings against the West Indies and failed to cross 200 in Potchefstroom. Nepal bowled out Afghanistan for a modest 145 in East London.
USA bowlers hit the right areas and controlled Bangladesh’s scoring rate in the initial phase of the innings at Bloemfontein. While Ashiqur Rahman Shibli (27) and Chowdhury Md Rizwan (35) got starts, USA kept coming back with regular strikes.
Ariful Islam, who had missed out against Ireland after a well-made 41 against India, took the lead once more. Instead of going for the big shots, the batter relied on playing down the ground, and accumulated runs at a brisk pace. With Ahrar Amin’s support, he helped pick Bangladesh’s scoring rate. Closing in on the final Powerplay, the Tigers were ready to pivot towards a bigger total.
94 runs were added in the last Powerplay as Bangladesh put the foot on the pedal. Islam reached his three-figure mark, while a cameo from Shihab James (31 from 17) helped the young Tigers finish at 291.
With a win and a loss against their names, the young Tigers would love to secure a place in the Super Six with a positive result in today’s clash. On the other hand, the USA will look to put behind their dismal start against Ireland and put up a better showing against Bangladesh.
Toss: West Indies elected to field West Indies had lost quick wickets in pursuit of a modest England target.
Nathan Edward’s left-arm prowess was at play early in the innings. The seamer bowled Jaydn Denly (0) in his very first over. Noah Thain joined skipper Ben McKinney, and the England innings took off in their characteristic positive fashion. 47 runs were added in the first Powerplay. When the fielding restrictions were removed, McKinney tried to loft Edward towards the leg side but was caught by Raneico Smith.
Thain and Hamza Shaikh ensured that England went at closer to five runs an over between 11-20, but the spin of Tarrique Edward disrupted this process. He got rid off Thain (40), when the batter tried to pull one towards the cow corner but failed to get the elevation and handed a catch to Nathan Sealy. An overambitious pull In Tarrique’s very next over by Luc Benkenstein was brilliantly caught in the deep by Mavendra Dindyal to leave England four down.
The procession of wickets continued throughout the middle overs, with Sealy and Isai Thorne adding their name to the wickets column. Thorne got rid of Hamza in the 38th over to put West Indies on top. With only three wickets left, England’s tail needed to ensure that they batted till the 50-over mark. However, regular strikes from Smith and Nathan meant that they were bowled out by the 47th over.
As has been the case with the West Indies, the flow didn’t stop in the runs column, even as wickets tumbled in the first Powerplay. Adrian Weir (0) fell in the very first over. Skipper Stephan Pascal got off to a positive start, but lost Joshua Dorne to Farhan Ahmed on the way. A spectacular cameo by Jordan Johnson (31 from 17) that lifted the Boys in Maroon. With four fours and two sixes, he took the attack to the England bowlers. It took a sharp take from Eddie Jack off Farhan to send Jordan back.
Source: Supersport
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