12:00 AM, June 03, 2019 / LAST MODIFIED: 03:33 PM, June 03, 2019

Bangladesh vs South Africa Highlights

330 for six is Bangladesh's highest ever total in the World Cup. Their previous highest score in the mega event was the 322 they scored against Scotland in 2015 at the Saxton Oval in Nelson. It was also Bangladesh's highest ever total against South Africa in the fifty-over format, surpassing their previous best of 278 for seven, which came in 2017.

A 142-run third wicket stand between Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim is Bangladesh's highest partnership at any wicket in the World Cup. The Tigers' previous best partnership in the World Cup was a 141-run stand between Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur against England during the 2015 edition in Adelaide.

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The 142-run third wicket stand between Shakib and Mushfiqur is also Bangladesh's highest third wicket stand against South Africa. Mahmudullah and Soumya Sarkar's 135 in 2015 was the previous highest for the Tigers against South Africa.

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The Hyatt Regency in Birmingham became a busier hotel over the last two days. When the Bangladesh team arrived here on June 25, it became a hub of sorts for subcontinental visitors in the stronghold of the south-east Asian community in Britain, but it reached another level on Friday when the Indian team arrived at the same hotel. For once on their World Cup trek through the UK, Bangladesh’s supporters will be in the minority.

Bangladesh had faced the full volume of Indian support during their Champions Trophy semifinal in 2017 here, and Indians swamped the streets on the day of the match and overwhelmed the Bangladeshi support inside the arena, much as their team did to their opponents. So when Bangladesh take on India in their World Cup match at Edgbaston on July 2, they will be underdogs in every sense -- in terms of playing ability, tournament position and recent results between the two teams.

It is an encounter that, depending on whether or not India beat hosts England today, Bangladesh will have to win to stay alive in the race to the semifinals. On Friday night, while Birmingham was abuzz with weekend revellers, Mashrafe came out in front of the hotel for some fresh air and while that would have caused a small commotion of Bangladeshi selfie-hunters on other nights, Mashrafe was more or less left alone as Indian fans tried to talk their way through tough hotel security and failed. Mashrafe recalled how overwhelming the support for India was the last time.

Although the match was still four days away, the wheels in Mashrafe’s head were already turning about finding a way past a team that was yet to be defeated in the World Cup. Would it be better to bat first or bowl first if they won the toss? They lost by nine wickets after batting first and scoring 264 in 2017. Bowling first would open the possibility of them being batted out of the game as they were done by the two other strong contenders for the title -- Australia and England.

He had in the past expressed relief after losing the toss. Would it be better to lose the toss this time too?

“Maybe,” Mashrafe mused as the deluge of Indian fans swept past. He was wondering what score would be enough to win against the strong Indian lineup if they did bat first. 340 seemed to be the number. But for that, they would have to see the wicket, and Mashrafe did not yet know which strip they would use for the match. Such were the worries and conflicts that constitute the mind of a captain heading into what may become a sudden-death match against the strongest team of the tournament. It could be said that Bangladesh, ranked eighth, had done enough by staying alive this deep into the tournament and impressing all and sundry with their performance in hostile conditions.

“To tell you the truth, none of my team are satisfied with what we have done so far. We have played well, but while it would surprise many outsiders if we reached the semis, I can say for sure that no one in the team would be surprised,” Mashrafe said.

Having played their last match against Afghanistan on June 24, many Bangladesh players were away in various places of the UK on vacation. Mashrafe and opener Tamim Iqbal were among those who came back on Friday. Others joined the team yesterday and today Bangladesh are set to undergo a practice session to prepare for the crucial World Cup encounter. There will be much for the team to finalise over the next two days.

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British Prime Minister Theresa May hosted the World Cup-winning England cricket team in the garden of her Downing Street residence on Monday, describing their win as "one of the great sporting spectacles of our time".

England ended their 44-year wait for a first 50-overs world title by beating New Zealand in a nailbiting final Super Over on Sunday.

May, a keen cricket fan, was at the match and, after the win, posted a video clip on Twitter of herself dancing.

The prime minister, who is due to stand down next week, greeted the players in front of her residence and posed for pictures with the team and the trophy.

"When the odds were against you in the biggest game of your lives, you simply and stubbornly refused to lose. It is that determination, that character, that has made you world champions. But, more than that, you have made history," May told the players during the drinks reception, according to remarks released by her office.

"You have helped the nation fall in love with cricket once again," she said, adding that the match was "a final for the ages".

Since being unceremoniously dumped out of the 2015 edition of the tournament in Australia, the England side have reinvented themselves as one-day cricket specialists and had headed into the World Cup as overwhelming favourites.

The match, which England won by the thinnest of margins after a tie-break Super Over, was watched by more than 8 million people in Britain.

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Kane Williamson stood with hands outstretched as an accurate throw from Martin Guptill ricocheted off a diving Ben Stokes’s bat and went for four in the 100th over of a sublime World Cup final at Lord’s on Sunday. If the ball had just found the keeper’s glove, or even if it deflected at a less acute angle and went to the short third man fielder, England would have needed seven runs from the last two balls, but the overthrow made it three from two. A tie, then a tied Super Over later, England had won the World Cup through the quite irrelevant measure of having hit more boundaries over the course of the game.

After scoring 27 per cent of his team’s runs over 11 games and also embodying the very philosophy that brought his team to the final, no one had more right to be disappointed, angered, disillusioned and frustrated by that overthrow. But Williamson put his hands down and got back to the business of leading his team with a steady hand. He repeated that when marshalling his fielders in the Super Over and, even when all was lost and all of Lord’s was celebrating, Williamson’s composure held when he talked to the TV cameras minutes after Guptill was run out trying to complete the World Cup-winning run.

For those who followed Williamson through the World Cup, this acceptance of ‘uncontrollables’ -- a word he repeated on numerous occasions before and after the epic final -- should not be surprising. While for most captains talking about focusing on their own team’s strengths rather than the opposition’s is little more than a soundbyte, Williamson lived that mantra and his team followed that example. It is this acceptance of not being able to control everything in the wide scope provided by a 50-over match that brought New Zealand to within inches of winning their maiden World Cup.

On paper, their team was formidable, but Guptill’s indifferent form at the top of the order put pressure on the middle order. It was none other than Williamson who bore the brunt of that pressure and with the continuing frailty at the top of the order, reassessed conditions and realities expertly to give New Zealand a fighting chance time and again.

While a loss of form or injuries would have had most captains cursing their luck, Williamson just recognised the reality of the situation. Instead, he hit an unbeaten 106 to secure a four-wicket win against South Africa and in the very next match, scored 148 against West Indies to set up a five-run win.

Even so, by the time the semifinals rolled around, not many would have given New Zealand a chance of winning against India because the Black Caps had scraped through on net run rate after losing their last three league games. But there again, Williamson scored 67 in New Zealand’s 239 for eight -- a total that seemed sub-par but, in another example of Williamson’s pitch-perfect assessment, proved to be very competitive as New Zealand won by 18 runs.

As captain, he focused on his team’s strength -- their superb seam bowling attack that could take wickets in English conditions and cover up for the oft-misfiring batting lineup -- and reassessed accordingly. His team followed by example. Even as Williamson departed for 30 in the final, the rest of the batsmen did not panic and just focused on getting a total that they believed their bowlers could defend through age-old wicket-taking methods, regardless of how strong England’s batting was.

It was an uncontrollable.

Although heartbroken, Williamson graciously accepted the player-of-the-tournament trophy at the end of the match. It is not just Bangladeshis who have asked why Shakib Al Hasan -- with the greatest all-round performance in World Cup history -- did not win the prize. But for fans of cricket, there is rich justice in recognising a player who tapped into the essence of the game, understood and accepted its cruelties, scored the runs he could and in the process, led his team to within inches of the World Cup. Williamson may not have the coveted trophy, but his example over the last month and a half has been a triumph for cricket.

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England ended their 44-year wait for a maiden 50-overs World Cup title by beating a gutsy New Zealand side on boundaries after a tied Super Over amidst heart-stopping drama on Sunday.

Chasing 242 for victory, Ben Stokes' scintillating 84 not out helped the hosts tie the see-saw contest, forcing the Super Over where more nail-biting excitement unfolded.

Buttler and Stokes took 15 runs off Trent Boult's Super Over without losing their wickets.

New Zealand also scored 15 runs off Jofra Archer's over but England won on boundary count, triggering wild celebrations at Lord's as the hosts capped a stunning turnaround.

Since being unceremoniously dumped out of the 2015 edition of the marquee tournament in Australia, Eoin Morgan's England side have reinvented themselves as a white-ball juggernaut, heading into this World Cup as overwhelming favourites.

Back-to-back defeats by Sri Lanka and Australia in the group stage helped England rediscover the attacking brand of fearless cricket which has been the hallmark of the current team.

They dismantled India and New Zealand to storm into the semi-finals, where they crushed Australia with another ruthless display of all-round excellence.

Sunday's final, England's first since 1992, pitted them against a New Zealand team chasing their own slice of history after spending decades as the tournament's bridesmaids.

CONTROLLED BOWLING

Morgan lost an important toss, but Liam Plunkett and Chris Woakes led England's controlled bowling display to restrict New Zealand to 241 for eight on a two-paced wicket.

Henry Nicholls made 55 and Tom Latham chipped in with 47 but lack of significant partnerships hurt New Zealand, who eventually settled for a below-par total.

Nicholls and Williamson put on 74 runs to bolster the New Zealand innings but Plunkett's two-wicket, cross-seam masterclass took the wind out of their sails.

Plunkett dismissed both batsmen just when the partnership was looking dangerous and he eventually finished with 3-42.

Woakes claimed three as well, including the wicket of Latham just when the batsman was looking poised to provide the late charge that could have taken New Zealand past the 250-mark.

New Zealand's new ball pair of Trent Boult and Matt Henry returned determined not to let it become a cakewalk for the hosts.

Henry dismissed the in-form Jason Roy for 10 and Colin de Grandhomme put a struggling Joe Root (7) out of his misery.

England could have been in a bigger hole had de Grandhomme not dropped a waist-high return catch from Bairstow, then on 18.

England were gasping on 86-4 when Stokes was joined by Buttler for a 110-run stand to revive the chase and tie the scores, producing one of the most thrilling matches in the history of the game. (Source: Reuters)

England win a thriller to clinch their maiden World Cup after tied match. England lift the World Cup courtesy of more boundaries in the match as the Super Over also finished on a tie. Both teams scored 15 runs in the Super Over. England are ecstatic after this unbelievable game that created heart-stopping drama right till the last ball of the tournament.

The Kiwis fought till the end and in the final ball of the Super Over, they needed two but Guptill fell short of his crease after hitting it towards mid wicket. Jason Roy picked the ball up at midwicket before he threw it at the striker's end and Buttler took off the bails to hand England the trophy. It took a tie-break rule to seperate the two sides and England won it because of more boundaries in the match.

New Zealand need 16 runs in the Super Over to win the World Cup. Neesham and Martin Guptill are batting for New Zealand.

0.1 - Wide ball from Archer

0.1 - NZ runs two

0.2 - A humongous hit from Neesham. What a hit. Six!

0.3 - Neesham takes two again. NZ need five runs from three deliveries.

0.4 - Another two from Neesham

0.5 - A single this time and Guptill to play last delivery. NZ need two

0.6 - Guptill tries two but he is short of his crease. Run out ! The match is tied but England win the World Cup

Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler has come into bat for England in the Super Over. Boult to bowl the Super Over for the Kiwis. England gets 15 in the Super Over.

Super Over England

0.1 - Three runs. Stokes gets a top edge and goes over third man and England run three.

0.2 - Buttler takes a single

0.3 - Stokes plays it fabulously over mid wicket for four

0.4 - Buttler takes a single

0.5 - Two runs

0.6 - Stokes gets a four.

49.6, Eng 241 all out - The final between New Zealand and England has gone to Super Over in what is the most thrilling final ever in a World Cup match. England needed 15 in the last over and 2 runs were needed off the last delivery bowled by Trent Boult and Stokes who has been batting brilliantly, checked his stroke in the last delivery that he played at long on and tried to steal two. He runs two but his partner Mark Wood at the other end is short of his crease. Run out! What a game of cricket! The World Cup final is tied and there will be a Super Over to decide the fate of the game. Rashid run out (Santner/Boult) 0 (0b 0x4 0x6)

48.6, ENG 227/8: Jofra Archer clean bowled by Neesham by a slower ball.

48.3, ENG 220/7: Plunkett looked to score a six but was caught at long off as Jimmy Neesham scalped his second of the day.

46.1, ENG 203/6: Another wicket as Lockie Ferguson sent Chris Woakes sent back. Ferguson banged in short and a top edge led the ball high in the sky. Wicket keeper Tom Latham went behind to take a comfortable catch at the end to bring life to this chase. Nail biting as Ben Stokes still in the middle. Liam Plunkett in the middle to accompany Stokes.

44.5, ENG 196/5: Lockie Ferguson breaks the hundred run partnership as the substitute fielder Tim Southee took a catch at sweeper cover to send Jos Buttler back. It seemed like this pair would take the England over the line but the batsman sliced a 123kmph ball and never looked in control. New energy in the New Zealand players as they feel like they can defend the total.

New Zealand bowlers have no answer to the Buttler, Stokes pair as the batsmen look to hammer through to victory. Jos Buttler jabbed a Trent Boult ball off the mid wicket for four to bring up his half century, whereas, a ball later, Ben Stokes took a single as he pushed a ball towards to bring up his half century. This one hundred run partnership was the one thing England needed and the New Zealand looked to have no answers to the havoc. Game slipping away from the Kiwis.

A fifty run stand between Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler as England look to chase the total of 242. The batsmen had to toil hard for each run in the initial stages of their innings but as the partnership grew, the players looked to play more freely. A long way to go for the English side to lift their first World Cup as New Zealand do not seem to have lost any energy in the middle. The Kiwi bowlers and fielders have done everything possible to subdue the run rate and create pressure till now. However, this partnership looked dangerous for the New Zealanders.

20.1, ENG 86/4: A stunning catch by Lockie Ferguson sent an unsettled Eoin Morgan back to the dressing room for nine in 22 balls. The whole stadium was in awe as Ferguson came running from the boundary line and dive infront towards the ball only to scalp one of the best catches in this tournament. The umpires sent it upstairs to get a closer look but the catch was clean. Jimmy Neesham gets his first of the day. EJG Morgan c Ferguson b Neesham 9 (22b 0x4 0x6) SR: 40.90

England's Jonny Bairstow (R) walks back to the pavilion after his dismissal during the 2019 Cricket World Cup final between England and New Zealand at Lord's Cricket Ground in London. Photo: AFP

19.3, ENG 73/3: Jonny Bairstow chopped himself out as Lockie Ferguson scalped his first of the day. Bairstow scored 36 runs off 55 balls as England lost wickets in quick successions. Runs have been hard to come as New Zealand's fielding made sure the English had to work hard for every run. In desperate need of a partnership, Ben Stokes came onto the field in hope to steady the ship for England. JM Bairstow b Ferguson 36 (55b 7x4 0x6) SR: 65.45

New Zealand's Colin de Grandhomme celebrates taking the wicket of England's Joe Root. Photo: Reuters

16.3, ENG 59/2: Colin De Grandhomme sent back Joe Root, as the batsman nicked the ball to the keeper Tom Latham. The England number three never looked comfortable in the middle as he scored seven off 30 deliveries. JE Root c †Latham b de Grandhomme 7 (30b 0x4 0x6) SR: 23.33

England bring up their fifty within 15 overs with major contribution from Jonny Bairstow who looked to score with ease in the middle. The batsmen scored 30 runs with Joe Root on the other side. New Zealand bowlers and fielders have been excellent to keep the runs in check.

5.4, ENG 28/1: Mat Henry got the prized wicket of Jason Roy as New Zealand got their first wicket. Angling in towards the off stump, the ball was inviting as Jason Roy nicked it to give the Kiwi wicket keeper Tom Latham a comfortable catch behind the stumps. A huge blow for England as Roy always ensured England got a perfect start at the beginning. Joe Root came onto the field to accompany Bairstow in the middle. JJ Roy c †Latham b Henry 17 (20b 3x4 0x6) SR: 85.00

England came down to chase a total of 242 runs after their excellent display of bowling and fielding in the first innings.

New Zealand bowlers were on top as Jason Roy survived an early scare of a LBW. However, after the umpire adjudged it not out, Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson took some time before deciding to review it. Fate was not on his side as the ball just clipped the stumps, thus the on field umpire had the last say.

The ball looked to swing in and out and also stuck on the pitch in the first five overs but the England openers Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy, despite having started shakily, upped the tempo.

New Zealand's Colin De GRANDHOMME sent back. Photo: Reuters

England restrict New Zealand for 241

Having chosen to bat after winning the toss, New Zealand could only manage 241 for eight at the end of their 50 overs.

England restricted New Zealand to 241-8 in the World Cup final as the hosts boosted their bid to make history by winning the tournament for the first time on Sunday.

Eoin Morgan's side were fuelled by three wickets each from Liam Plunkett and Chris Woakes on a green-tinged pitch in cloudy conditions that aided the pace bowlers at Lord's.

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson had elected to bat first, but his gamble backfired, with only Henry Nicholls (55) reaching a half-century for the 2015 World Cup runners-up in their 50 overs.

England struck early when opener Martin Guptill was dismissed by Woakes, before Williamson and Nicholls put on 74 for the second wicket.

Plunkett restored England's grip on the match with two quick wickets to remove star batsman Williamson for 30 and then Nicholls.

New Zealand, who are aiming to win the World Cup for the first time, could not establish any momentum after that as economical bowling from Plunkett, Woakes and Mark Wood turned the screw for England.

Plunkett finished with impressive figures of three wickets for 42 runs from his 10 overs, while Woakes took 3-37 from nine overs.

Derek Pringle was the only previous England player to take three wickets in a World Cup final, his haul coming against Pakistan in 1992.

Pringle's efforts were in vain as they lost that final against Pakistan 27 years ago.

England were also beaten in their two other World Cup finals, against Australia in 1987 and the West Indies in 1979.

Thanks to Plunkett and Woakes, England are within touching distance of finally ending their long wait to join England's footballers in 1966 and the 2003 rugby union team as world champions.

(AFP)

49.3, NZ 240/8: Mat Henry just looked to hit the ball over the boundary without looking for proper timing. A full ball right on to the stumps as Jofra Archer bagged his first of the day.

48.3, NZ 232/7: Another soft dismissal as Tom Latham lofted one to mid off fielder James Vince. Chirs Woakes was the second man after Liam Plunkett to scalp three wickets. England completely in control as they look to finish strong. TWM Latham c sub (JM Vince) b Woakes 47 (56b 2x4 1x6) SR: 83.92

46.5, NZ 219/6: A soft dismissal as Chris Woakes scalped his first wicket of the day. Colin De Grandhomme never looked comfortable in the middle after he was struck on the head by Jofra Archer. England seemed to be in charge as New Zealand were not given a chance to free their hands too much in the third power-play yet. Mitchell Santner came on to the field to accompany Latham. C de Grandhomme c sub (JM Vince) b Woakes 16 (28b 0x4 0x6) SR: 57.14

39, NZ 173/5: A big bump in the road for New Zealand as Jimmy Neesham was sent back by Liam Plunkett. A straightforward catch at mid on by Joe Root as Neesham had to walk home despite having scored freely in the middle. The partnership of Jimmy Neesham and Tom Latham looked to be dangerous for England but Plunkett who was brought in by England skipper Eoin Morgan to break this partnership struck gold again. JDS Neesham c Root b Plunkett 19 (25b 3x4 0x6) SR: 76.00

33.1, NZ 141/4 : Mark Wood sent Ross Taylor back as England do not seem let New Zealand build a partnership. The ball angled in from wide, as the ball struck the pads of the New Zealand batsmen Ross Taylor, given out by the umpire. The Kiwis were not able to review the decision as Martin Guptill used the allocated review for New Zealand. However, the ball tracker showed that the ball would have missed the stumps as it would have gone over the leg stumps. LRPL Taylor lbw b Wood 15 (31b 0x4 0x6) SR: 48.38

26.5, NZ 118/3: The ball nicked the bat before it went to hit the stumps as Henry Nicholls was sent back by Liam Plunkett. Two breakthroughs in quick successions by Plunkett as he scalped his second in the match to put England in the driving seat. New Zealand were looking comfortable in the middle with Nicholls and Williamson, building a strong partnership but two strikes by Plunkett sent both these batsmen back to the pavilion. HM Nicholls b Plunkett 55 (77b 4x4 0x6) SR: 71.42

25.1, NZ 110/2: Henry Nicholls scored a fighting half century despite losing his opening partner Guptill and skipper Williamson on the other side. Nicholls's kept his celebrations in check keeping in mind the task he has in hand to take the Kiwis to a decent total.

New Zealand's captain Kane Williamson walks back to the pavilion after his dismissal during the 2019 Cricket World Cup final between England and New Zealand at Lord's Cricket Ground in London. Photo: AFP

22.4, NZ 103/2: Liam Plunkett sent New Zealand captain Kane Williamson back to the dressing room as a review turned the decision to the favor of the Englishmen. Umpire Kumar Dharmasena initially ruled it as a not out but, the England skipper, Eoin Morgan was very confident as he instantly took the review. The ball seemed to get a heavy touch with the bat before landing inside the gloves of Jos Butler, an easy catch for the wicket keeper. Williamson out after scoring 30 runs off 53 balls as Ross Taylor made his way into the crease. KS Williamson c †Buttler b Plunkett 30 (53b 2x4 0x6) SR: 56.60

21.2, NZ 100/1: New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson and Henry Nicholls put up a 50-plus run partnership in the middle to take the Kiwis past the hundred run mark within 22 overs, after the early demise of Martin Guptill. The batsmen took comfortable singles and doubles and scored odd boundaries in loose balls to put the Kiwis in a srong position to put up an above par score in the final.

Martin Guptill's poor World Cup form continued in the today's final at Lord's. Photo: AFP

6.2, NZ 29/1: Henry Nicholls had survived with a review off Chris Woakes but his opening partner Martin Guptill is not so lucky as he is trapped infront by Woakes when looking to drive the ball on the up. Guptill challenged the umpire's decision and took the review but replays showed that ball would have hit the stumps this time around. England draw first blood in this final. Guptill lbw b Woakes 19 (18b 2x4 1x6) SR: 105.55

Nicholls survives with early review

It looked like England had drawn first blood when Chirs Woakes hit Henry Nicholls with a inswinger which darted back in late to the left-hander. The umpire raised his finger but Nicholls considererd it for a moment even as the ball hit his back leg. Everything looks good for England except the height of the delivery and replays confirm that the ball would have missed the stumps. Good decision to review that one. Nicholls survives.

New Zealand have won the crucial toss and decided to bat first against England in the final of the 2019 ICC World Cup at Lord's. Both teams are unchanged.

Playing XIs:

England: Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (capt), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler(wk), Chris Woakes, Liam Plunkett, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood

New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Henry Nicholls, Kane Williamson (capt), Ross Taylor, James Neesham, Tom Latham (wk), Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson

The toss was delayed by 15 minutes due to morning showers, but rain seems to have eased away. The match will start at 3:45pm Bangladesh time.

Fans dressed up in umpire uniforms for the World Cup final at Lord's. Photo: Reuters

The prize purse for the winners and runners-up is heavy, with the champions to get $4m and the runners-up half of it. There will also be indivdual awards, including the MVP of the tournament, where Shakib Al Hasan is a front-runner.

But that will be decided after the final itself. The past finals have been rather drab affair, one-sided and often predictable. This time, we'd hope it is a different thing for the sake of the game and those who follow it.

At least one thing that is definitely going to be different is that we will get a new champion. And it is likely to be a battle between the most explosive batting line-up and a shrewd bowling attack.

Hosts England have brushed aside years of underachievement by reaching the final for a fourth time -- 27 years since their last -- and look like the team to beat. New Zealand, the perennial semifinalists, had gone one better last time with a final appearance. Could they go one better again this time?

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Bangladesh's World Cup ended with a crushing defeat against Pakistan at Lord's on Friday. It was an anticlimactic finish to an otherwise fantastic run by the Tigers in the showpiece event that had started brilliantly for them with a fabulous victory against South Africa more than a month ago.

Interestingly, the harsh reality after Friday's chastening defeat is that we are no longer talking about how well the Tigers have played but how badly they have signed off.

The Pakistan game was a dead rubber for Bangladesh. The only thing at stake for the Tigers was to win the game and finish fifth, just beneath the four semifinalists. It could have been a logical conclusion after a campaign that saw the Tigers beat West Indies and Afghanistan apart from that near-miss against New Zealand and two closely-fought battles against Australia and India respectively. There was also a washout disappointment for the Tigers against the Lankan Lions.

But those were blurry amidst the punishing defeat by Pakistan, a team that also blew hot and cold throughout their own campaign.

It was arguably only the second of Bangladesh's nine league games where they were outclassed by the opposition after that heavy England defeat.

They bowled badly and fielded even worse, allowing Pakistan to post a commanding 315. It was a tough task to chase down that total on a slow wicket. The Tigers fans were still hoping that it was possible considering that the Tigers had scored three 300-plus totals in the tournament so far against quality attack.

It would be cruel to say that the batting unit, the most impressive of the three departments, did not try, or that they threw their wickets away. The truth is that they were outsmart by a fantastic young Pakistan bowler -- Shaheen Shah Afridi. The left-arm pacer took six wickets and earned all of them.

His immaculate line and length, subtle changes of variation and pace and those searing yorkers were too hot to handle for the Tigers. Shaheen turned up with his golden arm whenever the Tigers tried to wrest the initiative from the firm grip of Pakistan.

Shakib Al Hasan tried hard. He was out there to complete his seventh fifty-plus knock in eight completed games before being dismissed by Shaheen.

It was a game where Bangladesh's weaknesses in two departments -- bowling and fielding -- were exposed for the umpteenth time. After the game it came under the scanner, which is quite logical.

But the emotional override after that defeat was not all that rational, especially when the criticism targeted Tigers captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, who took only one wicket in the whole tournament. There was a lot of speculation about Mashrafe's participation in the last game against Pakistan. Thankfully, he played what was his last World Cup game, which was a logical decision.

The fans perhaps expected him to make an announcement of his retirement in that game. But he preferred to buy some time to make his decision, which is also understandable. He said it was his last World Cup. He has served Bangladesh cricket on those bad legs with extreme dedication and is the man behind taking Bangladesh to a position of strength in the one-day format.

Mashrafe is a born fighter. We can be critical about his performance in the World Cup. But he also deserves to make his own decision.

What every stakeholder of the game now needs is to allow enough time for the overflowing emotions to die down.

After the Champions Trophy semifinal defeat against India in England in 2017, Shakib was having a chat with a few Bangladesh reporters ahead of the post-match briefing. Asked what areas Bangladesh needed to improve on to be more competitive, Shakib said: "We are all emotional at the moment. I think we should allow it to subside and then sit together so that we can make that decision rationally."

It was as true then as it is now. The reality is that Bangladesh's glorious chapter with Mashrafe is all but over. It is time to take a deep breath and plan for the 2023 World Cup.

Choose a new leader wisely, think of a new set of coaching staff if necessary and harness a combination most suited for Indian conditions where the next World Cup will be held. It will only help to dream big.

Bangladesh vs South Africa Highlights

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