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This is an archive article published on April 9, 2007

Stunning Bangladesh win fires World Cup

Over rice, daal and mutton curry at an Indian restaurant a day before their match against South Africa, 30-year-old Bangladesh opener Javed Omar made a small request:

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Over rice, daal and mutton curry at an Indian restaurant a day before their match against South Africa, 30-year-old Bangladesh opener Javed Omar made a small request: 8216;8216;Dua mein yaad rakhna Remember us in your prayers8217;8217;.

The upset win over India was almost a month old and the side had lost to Sri Lanka, Australia and New Zealand. Bangladesh was already being counted out by pundits and fans alike for the last four spots at the World Cup. But no one seemed so sure after Bangladesh pulled off another historic win, beating South Africa by 67 runs. The last four spots were up for grabs again, all calculations gone wrong.

Hours after Habibul Bashar and his team ran into the dressing room for a celebration of their own, batting legend Barry Richards of South Africa spoke for all: 8216;8216;I am still pinching myself8217;8217;. Graeme Smith8217;s crack side had been outplayed by a side already being dismissed as lucky to be in the Super Eight.

Omar may have made a simple wish for a mass appeal to the gods but this Bangla side is showing its mettle 8212; they believe in themselves, in the maturity of their seniors, the potential of their juniors, the faith in their spinners. 8216;8216;We were not as overjoyed as against India. We have a job ahead. There are important games ahead in the Super Eight, so we are focused,8217;8217; said Bashar.

Three left-arm spinners had the South Africans stumped. For Abdur Razzak 3/25, Mohammad Rafique 1/22 and Saqibul Hasan 2/49, it was a perfect encore 8212; between them, they had six wickets against India too. No one will now dare take Bangladesh lightly.

 

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