Batting heroes fire together

The 40-odd minute innings break was perhaps the most nervous moment for any Bangladeshi fan yesterday. It was dominated by a mixture of fear and disbelief. Did Kyle Coetzer actually send the Tigers on their way home? Can an inconsistent Bangladesh defy the odds and achieve the second highest run-chase in World Cups?

The answers didn't seem like to go Bangladesh's way during the break. It seemed more impossible when Soumya Sarker got caught behind early. But the events that followed brought back a school of thought which the fans have missed for a while.

Tamim Iqbal setting the foundation with a rigid 95, Mahmudullah Riyad muscling a half-century, Mushfiqur Rahim coming in and easing the nerves with an aggressive 50; and all these led Shakib Al Hasan to calmly finish the game. It was one of those rare moments that witnessed all of Bangladesh's batting heroes perform in one game.

It may have just been Scotland, but the Tigers needed a united performance to chase down 318 and cancel out Coetzer's superb 156; a task that the Tigers are not used to doing.

Tamim might have missed out on his dream of becoming Bangladesh's first World Cup centurion, but it was his 95 that was key behind their six-wicket win -- their highest chase in ODIs -- at the Saxton Oval yesterday.

Shakib hit the winning boundary to complete the chase with eleven balls remaining. That was followed by a calm hug between Sabbir Rahman and the all-rounder; as opposed to the traditionally excited celebrations. It gave the impression that the Tigers were hungry for more in this mega event.

Prior to yesterday's game Bangladesh had chased down 300-plus totals just twice. They needed a good stand at the top and that came in the form of Mahmudullah and Tamim.

Both batsmen didn't force anything; rather they played according to the merit of the balls and showed plenty of maturity during their 139-run second wicket stand; a World Cup record for Bangladesh.

Riyad was unfortunately bowled off his back toe after Iain Wardlaw directed a yorker towards his feet but before that he made a well-composed run-a-ball 62. His dismissal however brought Mushfiqur to the crease only to establish more authority against the Scottish bowling attack.

Tamim was the next batsman to walk to the dressing room but by that time Bangladesh reached into a comfortable 201 for three in 31.3 overs.

Tamim took his time and looked well settled for his first hundred in two years but pacer Josh Davey trapped him leg-before for 95; Tamim however broke Mohammad Ashraful's best score of 87 for Bangladesh in a World Cup. In his 100-ball knock, the left-hander stuck nine fours and a six.

Mushfiqur ensured that the run-rate would have not been an issue for his side as he smote six fours and two sixes during his 41-ball 60.

After his dismissal, Bangladesh required 72 in as many balls and that was superbly dealt with by Shakib, who was unbeaten on 52, and Sabbir, who made 42 off 40 balls.

The player-of-the-match award however went to Coetzer for his masterful knock; Scotland's first World Cup hundred and is now the highest for a non-Test nation going past David Houghton's 142 against New Zealand in 1987. He toyed with the Bangladesh bowlers and hit 17 fours and four sixes.

After sent into bat, Scotland lost two early wickets but Matt Machan joined Coetzer to steady the ship and then a 141-run fourth wicket stand between Coetzer and captain Preston Mommsen made sure that Bangladesh are given a record target to keep their winning record intact against them.

Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, who failed to complete his 10-over spell due to minor cuff muscle injury, had to struggle with rotating his bowlers.

On the field, Bangladesh lost Anamul Haque early, who suffered a shoulder injury that ruled him out of the World Cup.