Ashraful a handful

Bangladesh has already pulled one upset in this World Cup. Can this youthful team do it again?

First it sent India home early and it now appears that South Africa, a team that is known to choke under pressure, could be the second victim in Georgetown, Guyana, today. It did so in 1999 in England and four years later in South Africa.

South Africa has been set to score 252 for victory after being put in to bat and, after 25 overs, fans will not believe that the top seed in this competition is on 94 for six. Yes, that’s right.

The Bangladeshis started off slowly and it appeared there was no chance that they would reach 160. But Mohammad Ashraful with a delightful knock of 87 off 83 balls carved the South African pace attack along with Aftab Ahmad and Mashrafe Mortaza.

Ashraful was simply brilliant with his scoops from the off to the leg side that left the South Africans puzzled.

The South African pace attack was torn to ribbons and only Andre Nel with five for 45 troubled Bangladesh. The others leaked runs and it is obvious that South Africa’s insistence not to play any spinners is going to hurt them.

This puts the South Africans in a huge spot and they could even miss the semis which at one time they were considered shoo-ins to make. That's until today.

Norman Da Costa