Media view of Bangladesh's victory over Scotland (26 May 1999)

26 May 1999

Media view of Bangladesh's victory over Scotland

Our Sports Reporter

The 22-run victory of Bangladesh against Scotland sparked a rapturous mid-night celebration in Dhaka. People from all walks of life took to the street immediately after slow left-armer Enamul Hoque heralded the fall of the last Scottish batsman at the Grange Cricket Club ground in Hamilton on Monday.

The historic World Cup win of the Bangladeshi cricketers in their first-ever appearance at the biggest extravaganza was lauded by the British media, providing the details of the virtual final of the minnows.

"Bangladesh survive Hamilton's surge" - read the headline of The Times.

"It was as though Bangladesh had won the World Cup itself as their supporters celebrates in front of the Old Grange Cricket Club pavilion last night. As it was, they had taken an important step towards the Test status that they crave by overcoming adversity to re-affirm their supremacy over the cricketing world that exist beyond the nine Test-playing nations", said the English daily.

"Hamilton runs out of luck in chasing Bangladeshi," says The Daily Telegraph headline.

Scotland run out of 'cup final' luck-- read the two-line heading in The Independent.

The Independent, however, opted for a dramatic start to their lead story.

"The World Cup has already thrown up a few surprise, but none would have compared with Scotland being level on points in Group B with Australia after three matches. Sadly for those who value cricketing embarrassment down under it is not the case".

Instead it is Bangladesh, who have drawn level with the team who were second favorites for the tournament after a 22-run victory in the wooden-spoon match, and suddenly they are meeting with the Australians at Chester-le-Street on Thursday has taken on a significance; no one imagine when the schedule was drawn up.

"Bangladesh were hardly downplaying the event either as their captain, Aminul Islam, described it as " the most important match of my life" and, with 1500 fellow countrymen to support them, the delightful Grange Cricket Club sounded like a suburb of Dhaka rather than the Scottish capital.

"Unfortunately the weather was unmistakably home-based and a wind that felt like it had last resided in the Cairngorms whipped across the pitch to make it uncomfortably cold when the sun was out and miserable as sin when it propelled the rain at 45 degrees.

"(Scottish captain) put Bangladesh in and the sound of the pipers of the First Battalion of the Argyll and Sunderland Hilanders had barely faded into the pavilion before half the visiting line-up have joined it.

"The only complaint Bangladesh could have had - apart from the wicket and the weather that is - was Aminul's leg before of John Blain, which looked suspiciously high and going to leg.

On match-winning knock of Minhazul Abedin, The Independent wrote, "In normal circumstances his unbeaten 68 off 116 balls would have been criminally tardy, under these it was an innings saver.

"Bangladesh conquer the brave hearts," The Guardian headline blurted out.

Source :: The Daily Star