Giantkillers Bangladesh look for England scalp by AFP

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Event:

ICC World Cup 2006/07

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DateLine: 10th April 2007

 

Bangladesh hope their spin king trio can bamboozle England, just like they did South Africa, and boost their bid for a World Cup semi-final place on Wednesday.

 

The left-arm trio of seasoned Mohammad Rafique, effective Abdur Razzak and emerging Saqibul Hasan spun Graeme Smith's side to a humiliating 67-run defeat in Guyana on Saturday - their first ever win over South Africa.

 

The win was only Bangladesh's fifth over a major Test playing country in 155 matches and they now seek their first over England in eight matches.

 

"If we beat England we get closer to the semi-finals but for that we have to work really hard," said Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar ahead of the match against struggling England at the new-look Kensington Oval.

 

"Definitely we need to play consistent as well. We don't want to play one good game and then play three bad games. But the South Africa win has increased the confidence and morale in the team."

 

Bangladesh, who upset India by five wickets in the group stage to earn a second round place for the first time since their World Cup debut in 1999, have two points from four matches.

 

Bangladesh's win over South Africa, which also dethroned Smith's side as world number one, not only increased their chances, but also threw open the race for semi-finals.

 

"It was a historic win over South Africa and now we need to win three more matches to come into contention for a semi-final. The boys know it's hard work but they are ready for it," said Bashar, who hoped his spinners come good once again.

 

"If we can get the same kind of wicket as we had in Guyana our spinners can repeat that, but England also have some pretty good players who score runs against spinners."

 

Michael Vaughan's team are in a tight corner after Sunday's seven-wicket defeat against Australia left them with two points from four games, and another loss will mean the exit door for them.

 

Their only win in the Super Eights came against Ireland.

 

The world's top batsman Kevin Pietersen struck a magnificent century but Australia put the brakes on the innings as from 164-3 in the 30th over, England managed just 83 runs in the last 20 overs to be bowled out for 247.

 

Australia reached the target with half-centuries from skipper Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke.

 

"I think we are very close to being a really good one-day team," insisted Vaughan.

 

"We've lost games against Sri Lanka and Australia and we've put them under a lot of pressure.

 

"We are just not winning critical periods and doing enough during the whole game to win the match. That's disappointing and we'll need to play well against Bangladesh, South Africa and the West Indies and win those games, but we're certainly a team that can do that.

 

"We know we have to win the next three games now, so it's sometimes a good thing to know exactly what you have to do to reach the next stage."

 

For Vaughan, his own form, and that of all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, is a major worry.

 

Vaughan has managed 112 runs in the last 12 innings, including 12 in the last four World Cup matches. Flintoff has 49 runs in four outings to the middle to add to his ten wickets.

(Article: Copyright © 2007 AFP)