Tigers’ extraordinary victory
Thank you Tigers for presenting us with a most outstanding victory on June 17 against West Indies—something that the country had not witnessed since Bangladesh qualified for international cricket. Frankly, we had been used to seeing a different kind of spectacle in the past when the team would often wilt—trying to overtake even much smaller targets than the 322 that they chased down at Taunton on Monday—or lower their guards and allow the opponent to put up a very big target after keeping them in check for a greater part of the 50 overs. The Tigers have outdone their opponent in every department. Seldom have they surpassed such a huge target with so many overs to spare and so few wickets lost.
What we were exposed to was the performance of a team that exuded grit, resolve and, above all, a supreme sense of "We can do it." And they did it, much to the pleasant surprise of Bangladeshi supporters, at home and abroad, who had felt daunted by the huge total.
The big match temperament in everyone was quite evident, and they managed to restrain the opponents who, at one time, looked as if they would notch up a total bigger than the one they eventually did. We have seldom seen Bangladesh do so well in the field—backing up the bowlers so very well. And they went about delivering the Tigers' highest ever ODI run chase reaching the target with consummate ease and professional élan, in the face of some very fast bowling, as displayed by Shakib, Liton and Tamim.
We would like to think the Bangladesh team has come of age. What we would like to see is consistency in their performance. Admittedly, there will be a winner in a match, but what matters is not the final result but how well we contested the match.
We congratulate the team and with it the coaching staff for a result worth savouring, and certainly worth emulating in the future. The very best of luck to the Tigers for the remaining matches.
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