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Bangladesh's Soumya Sarkar was in an upbeat mood when talking to reporters today regarding the India match. Bangladesh will play India on July 2 and Soumya said that the Tigers cannot think they lag behind in any departments to India when they play the Asian giants.

"If we think that India are ahead of us [in some areas] then we will lag behind them even before the match begins. We have to play to win and with the fact in mind that we are in the race. We have come here to play in a big tournament so we can't think they edge us in any areas," Soumya said positively.

Bangladesh have played some fantastic cricket at this World Cup. They beat Afghanistan to pick up their third win in the tournament and hope to overcome both India and Pakistan in their two remaining matches in order to have a chance of making the top four. Even against strong opponents like Australia, they put a good account of themselves, reaching 333 runs in chase of 382. While the bowling has not always been promising, Soumya sees hope.

"I think if we think of our abilities and the way we are playing in three departments then I think it's possible to win and we will win," he said.

Asked about the difference between the two sides, Soumya did not want to look down upon Bangladesh's strengths.

"They are India and we are Bangladesh and that is the difference between the two sides. In the field, who will play well [will win]. Since it is a big tournament, if you go by the names then you will be going on the backfoot. So without thinking in those terms, the thing is to play the match with a plan and find out where they are lacking and properly execute our plan in all three departments, then we will win."

 

 

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When Shakib Al Hasan tucked the last ball of the 21st over from Afghanistan pacer Dawlat Zadran to deep square leg, he became the first Bangladesh player to score 1,000 runs in World Cup matches.

Shakib, currently the top scorer in his fourth World Cup, reached the mark in his 27th innings and is well clear of second-placed Mushfiqur Rahim. Mushfiqur, who was batting with Shakib when the all-rounder reached the landmark, currently has 766 runs in cricket's mega event.

It is a measure of how prolific Shakib has been in the current edition that when the event began, Shakib had 540 runs in World Cups to Mushfiqur's 513.

Third and fourth on the list of Bangladesh's top World Cup scorers are Tamim Iqbal (688 runs) and Mahmudullah Riyad (560 runs). Mohammad Ashraful is in fifth place with 299 runs in 16 innings.

Shakib has scored his 1,000 runs at an average of 45.5, second only to Mahmudllah's 56 among Bangladeshi batsmen.

The world's top all-rounder is currently the top scorer in the 2019 World Cup with 464 runs at an average of 116.

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Bangladesh handed the West Indies a thumping seven-wicket defeat, courtesy of Shakib Al Hasan's brilliant unbeaten 124 and Liton Das' unbeaten 94 at The Cooper Associates County Ground in Taunton yesterday.

Following such a commanding victory, praises pour in from all around the world for the Tigers.

 

Here are some of the reactions on social media:

 

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West Indies were thundering towards a huge total, putting the Tigers out of the game at the 40th over of the innings when Mashrafe Bin Mortaza brought his wily cutter master Mustafizur Rahman back into the attack and it paid rich dividends.

Mustafizur went on to remove Shai Hope after he had stormed to a 25-ball 50. 82 runs had been scored in the last six overs prior to Fizz's over and Fizz was not done after Hope's wicket. He bowled an absolutely brilliant cutter that took the edge of Andre Russell's bat before Mushfiqur dived to take a great catch. That over turned out to be the turning point for Mashrafe.

"The turning point was Mustafizur getting those two wickets," the skipper said in post-match ceremony.

The scalp of two big hitters really slowed Windies down at the end. Instead of getting to a score of 340 or even 350, the Windies innings stopped at 321 for eight.

Shakib Al Hasan and Liton Das then stood tall, as Tigers coasted to victory in cathartic style.

Mashrafe praised the star duo for their effort. "He [Shakib] has delivered for the team, every match he has come and done something which is really exceptional. Hopefully others will join him. Last two matches Mushfiqur batted well, today Liton batted brilliantly. Normally he bats at the top, it was a tough ask to bat at 5, but he coped with that and delivered," Mashrafe concluded.

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Shakib Al Hasan reached the landmark of 6000 runs in ODI cricket during the World Cup game against the West Indies at Taunton.

The left-hander has been in brilliant form in this tournament with two fifties and a hundred. He struck 75 against South Africa in a winning cause before hitting 64 and 121 during the losses to New Zealand and England respectively

He started today's innings needing 23 runs to reach the personal landmark and reached it in the 15th over of the innings with a single off Oshane Thomas.

The 32-year-old ace all-rounder averages 36.66 in ODIs with eight tons and 44 fifties. He is unbeaten on 24 off 19 deliveries at the time of filing this report.

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David Warner gave net bowler Jaykishan Plaha a signed Australia World Cup shirt on Saturday, a week after hitting the paceman in the head with a drive during a practice session at the Oval.

Australia halted their training session after the incident and Plaha was taken to hospital for checks, which showed no major injury.

The left-handed batsman met Plaha ahead of Australia's game against Sri Lanka at the same venue and presented him with an autographed team shirt.

"Last week, Jaykishan Plaha was hit on the head by a David Warner drive during an Australia training session," said a post on the official World Cup Twitter feed.

"Today, Warner met both Jaykishan and his mum before play, presented Jaykishan with an Australia shirt and wished him a speedy recovery."

Australia captain Aaron Finch said last week that Warner was "pretty shaken-up" after the net bowler was felled.

"Warner gave me his match shirt from the World Cup. Really appreciate it. What happened was that I got hit on the head by David Warner on the front drive," Plaha said in a video posted on Twitter.

"Glad to be standing here actually. Hope to be back on the field soon. My dream is to be a professional cricketer as well."

Warner, who has returned from a ball-tampering ban along with teammate Steve Smith, has scored 281 runs at the World Cup in five matches so far, including a century and two fifties.

Australian cricket was plunged into mourning in 2014 when Test batsman Phillip Hughes died after being hit on the base of the skull during a domestic match.

Warner was playing in that match, between New South Wales and South Australia.

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David Warner said wife Candice had been his "rock" and the driving force behind his return to Australia duty after the opener scored his first international century since a ball-tampering ban during a World Cup win over Pakistan.

The opener made 107, his first hundred in Australia colours since an Ashes century against England during the 2017 Boxing Day Test at Melbourne, as the World Cup champions won by 41 runs at Taunton on Wednesday.

Both Warner and former captain Steve Smith were given 12-month bans by Cricket Australia following their roles in a ball-tampering scandal in South Africa.

"I was always coming back to international cricket if selected," Warner told reporters after stumps in his first major press conference since his suspension expired.

"The thing that kept me going was my wife and kids.

"My wife is just, she's just my rock. She's unbelievable. She's determined, disciplined, selfless," the 32-year-old left-hander added.

"She's a strong woman. And she got me out of bed a lot in those sort of first sort of 12 weeks, and got me back running and training hard as I could... She really nailed that into me."

Candice Warner, who is pregnant with the couple's third child, is now in England.

Australia, whose next match is against Sri Lanka at the Oval on Saturday, now have an official period of 'family time' starting Thursday when players can see their wives and families.

"We're fortunate enough to have our families away with us which is great and obviously we're going to be here for a while in the UK," said Warner, set for a long stay given Australia remain in England for an Ashes series after the World Cup.

While Smith and Cameron Bancroft, who received a nine-month ban for applying sandpaper to the ball during a Test at Cape Town, gave interviews during their suspensions, Warner maintained his silence following an emotional press conference at Sydney Airport after he was sent home from the tour.

"I didn't need to say anything," explained Warner, reported to be the instigator of the ball-tampering incident.

"What was said was said back in those press conferences. And now it's about looking forward."

 

- 'Awesome' -

Warner's century was also his third fifty in four innings this World Cup after scores of 89 not out against Afghanistan and an uncharacteristically slow 56 off 84 balls in a defeat by India last time out.

"Personally, it's a great thing," said Warner of his hundred. "It was a long time coming. Against Afghanistan I felt like I had no rhythm.

"And still last game they (India) bowled really straight to me. But to come out here, play the way I know I can play was awesome," explained Warner, who faced just 111 balls at Taunton.

Warner and Australia captain Aaron Finch (82) shared an opening stand of 146 -- the highest partnership for any wicket of this World Cup so far.

But they had to see off a testing opening spell from Pakistan left-arm quick Mohammad Amir, who finished with career-best figures of 5-30.

"He's a world-class bowler," said Warner. "When he's swinging it, it's very difficult to try to get on top of him. I tried my best to see him off but still try and rotate the strike."

Pakistan fans in Taunton largely heeded a pre-match plea from captain Sarfaraz Ahmed not to boo Smith and Warner -- indeed many of them cheered and clapped Warner after he was out.

This was in marked contrast to the crowd taunts that had come Warner's way in previous World Cup games, with further jeers expected during the Ashes.

"The boos, we don't really hear that when we're out there... It's water off a duck's back," Warner insisted. "I've heard it my whole career.

"Actually it eggs us on a lot and makes us knuckle down and try to score more runs if anything."

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India and Australia clash in the standout game of the World Cup so far on Sunday, with Virat Kohli's men desperate to lay down a marker against the five-time champions.

In the past five editions of the tournament, India are the only team to have denied the Australians the trophy, on home soil in 2011.

Here let’s look at three key battles ahead of the match at the Oval.

India captain Virat Kohli scored a fluent 116 against Australia during the second ODI in Nagpur yesterday. Photo: AFP

Kohli v Starc

Virat Kohli is the world's top-ranked batsman in one-day internationals and Tests while Mitchell Starc is Australia's left-arm pace spearhead.

Kohli was out for just 18 in India's opening game in Southampton but averages more than 53 against Australia in ODIs.

STARC THE SABOTEUR: Mitchell Starc sabotaged the dreams of eight other teams as he led the way with the ball to secure the World Cup for Australia. PHOTO: AFP

Starc, who took five wickets in Australia's win over the West Indies, will be handed the responsibility of taking early wickets, with Kohli the prized scalp.

"When he's got his rhythm and his form is good, he's definitely the best around -- I think that is without question," said former Australia captain Allan Border, who led the team to their 1987 World Cup triumph.

 

Australia’s former vice-captain David Warner marked his return to the side by scoring 39 runs in an unofficial warm-up match between Australian XI and New Zealand XI at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane yesterday. Australian XI won the match by one wicket. Photo: AFP

Warner v Bumrah

Swashbuckling Australian opener David Warner has returned from his ball-tampering ban in style.

After topping the run charts in the Indian Premier League, Warner smashed an unbeaten 89 in Australia's opening World Cup win over Afghanistan.

India's Jasprit Bumrah bowls during the 2019 Cricket World Cup group stage match between South Africa and India at the Rose Bowl in Southampton on June 5. Photo: AFP

 

But the left-handed batsman will be up against an Indian paceman who tops the ODI bowling rankings, with 87 wickets in 50 matches.

Bumrah set the tone for India's win against South Africa on Wednesday with his two early strikes.

South African opener Hashim Amla called him "one hell of a bowler" after the 25-year-old quick sent the veteran batsman packing for six on a cloudy Southampton morning.

Australia's Adam Zampa in action against West Indies. Photo: Reuters

Zampa v Chahal

Adam Zampa is no Shane Warne but is expected to be Australia's key spin hope against India.

Fifteen of the leg-spinner's 64 ODI wickets have come against India since his debut in 2016 and variations including the googly and the straight ball make up for his lack of prodigious turn.

Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal took six wickets as England collapsed in dramatic fashion in the third and final T20I in Banglaore yesterday. The visitors lost eight wickets for eight runs in 18 deliveries as they succumbed to a 75-run defeat. PHOTO: AFP

His Indian counterpart, Yuzvendra Chahal, is seen as Kohli's go-to spinner along with spin partner Kuldeep Yadav.

Chahal returned figures of 4-51 against South Africa and the former chess player will be looking to plot Australia's downfall.

"Chess has taught me patience and planning," he said. "When you play chess you normally plan 15 to 16 moves in advance."