Bangladesh race to 54 for three

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Bangladesh were hitting four and sixes and at the same time losing wickets in their last group game against hosts South Africa at Newlands in Cape Town yesterday.

The match, which was of only an academic interest, started 20 minutes behind schedule due to wet ground conditions caused by light drizzle.

South Africa captain Graeme Smith won the toss and sent Bangladesh in to bat. The Tigers started from where they had left off against the West Indies with left-handed opener Tamim Iqbal hitting the very first ball of the innings for a cracking four through the covers. He then pulled Shaun Pollock’s fourth delivery to the mid-wicket boundary.

Nazimuddin might have missed the party for a second successive game, out leg before to Makhaya Ntini’s first ball, but Aftab Ahmed knocked the fast bowler out of the ground hitting the fourth ball for a six over mid-wicket before smashing the next two for fours.

Tamim was out for eight while Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful smashed a six and a four before holing out at mid-on for 10.

Aftab, who scored an unbeaten 62 against West Indies, was in a more attacking mood, batting on 32 off 12 balls and Bangladesh raced to 54-3 in four overs.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh play their first Super Eights match against Australia today, less than 24 hours after their game against South Africa.

The match will begin at 6pm Bangladesh Time with ESPN providing live coverage.

The day’s hectic schedule also includes a cracker of a contest between India and New Zealand in Johannesburg while South Africa face England later on tonight.

It will be the first time that the Tigers play against the mighty Australians in this form of cricket and with Ricky Ponting’s men being shocked by Zimbabwe earlier in the piece, they are well aware of their opponents.

Bangladesh ousted the West Indies from the competition with a magnificent 5-wicket win at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Thursday. Ashraful and Aftab blitzed half-centuries to sink the men from the Caribbeans.

Ponting said Australia could not afford to turn in another below-par display if they are going to be crowned World Twenty20 champions.

Australia were shocked by the African minnows on Wednesday, before recovering to thrash England by eight wickets on Friday.

Ahead of Sunday’s Super Eights game, Ponting said: “If we’re not at our absolute best in this format, everyone is a bit vulnerable.

“We showed a lot of character to bounce back in the manner that we did.”

Australia knocked off 135 to beat England with more than five overs to spare and Ponting believes his side can keep on improving.

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