Bangladesh showed the gulf of difference between them and associate members of the International Cricket Council when they dominated their all three qualifying matches of the ICC World Twenty20 in Dharamsala. They may have won the first match against Netherlands by just eight runs but it was not unexpected from a side which played the game in less than 72 hours after another important tournament back home.
They had hardly any time to sleep after the Asia Cup final before they embarked on the flight for Dharamsala, a city which, irrespective of their geographical proximity, presented them with a completely different condition.
Rain and chill welcomed the Tigers in the city which came to them truly as a foreign land and they had very little time to adjust before they faced Netherlands in their first match.
After two days they got somewhat acclimatised and were up to the task against Ireland in their rain-ruined second match. They had just eight overs to bat on a rain-soaked pitch when they made 94-2 to show their recent improvement.
Their openers kept the prospect of further rain in their mind and attempted to bat out Ireland from the beginning. As a result boundaries started to flow from very beginning showing the maturity that the Tigers gained in the recent past.
There was hardly anyone present at Dharamsala to bet for the Irish side once rain stopped the play, which brought infamous Duckworth/Lewis Method into equation.
If Ireland had to bat after Bangladesh innings, they had to score 72 runs in five overs, 84 runs in six overs, 96 in seven overs and 108 in eight overs. It was unexpected from a side that had lost to Oman in the previous game.
The wash out gave Bangladesh one point, taking some pressure off, yet they had to win their final game against Oman to progress into the Super 10s.
The rain had the chance to put them before an awkward situation once again, but Tamim Iqbal with a terrific century ensured they were always in control.
Rain indeed intervened several times during the match, but it could only make life more difficult for Oman.
It was not an easy weather to play a match in such cold weather when players and coaches were seen shivering in extreme cold during the match.
‘As if we were playing in England or Ireland,’ pointed out Bangladesh skipper Mashrafee bin Murtaza.
Despite the hostile condition and completely unknown oppositions Bangladesh did not lose their focus for a single moment and played like a true giant in Oman game.
It underlined their status as the dark horse of the tournament and sent out a strong message to their opponents in Super 10s.
They came to the qualifying round with some points to prove and they did it without a minimum fuss in Dharamsala.
The three warm-up matches also gave Bangladesh some idea about condition and pitches in India, where they played a game after a 10-year gap.
Skipper Mashrafee said it will help them going into the business session of the tournament when they will face a greater challenge.
‘We did not play much in India,’ Mashrafee said after Oman match. ‘Now we have got some idea about this country. Hopefully it will help us in next matches.’
-With New Age input
