Bangladesh victory knocks out India from Cup

A billion hopes were shattered when India were knocked out of the World Cup on Sunday after Bangladesh beat debutants Bermuda match to reach the Super Eights. India had a mathematical chance of entering the super eight stage because of a higher net run rate if minnows Bermuda were to cause an upset victory over Bangladesh. The 1983 champions and finalists in the last edition of the World Cup, this is the earliest exit that India faced since 1992.

This is the first time that Bangladesh has moved ahead of the opening stage in a World Cup. In a match reduced to 21 overs due to rain, Bermuda scored 94 for nine and Bangladesh overhauled the target with 21 balls to spare. Bangladesh had been steadily increasing the levels of their performance under master strategist, Dev Whatmore, who earlier coached Sri Lanka to their first World Cup win. "This is very significant for us. I thought it was very difficult to wait all day against a team we had to beat and beat well," said the coach. 

Bangladesh had some scary moments when Bermuda seamer Saleem Mukuddem took three quick wickets in seaming conditions, reducing the chase to 37 for 3 in the eighth over. However Saqibul Hasan and Mohammad Ashraful with their composed knocks of 26 not out and 29 not out guided their team home, leaving India to catch an early flight back home. 

Despite being a side with not much of international experience, Bermuda fought hard in the adverse weather conditions and scored 46 runs in the last six overs. Mukuddem finished with figures of 3 for 19 after a sharp five over spell.