ICC CWC'19: 'Bangladesh confident of beating anyone at WC', says Mashrafe Mortaza
Bangladesh overhauled West Indies' total of 321 with 51 balls to spare on Monday.
Bangladesh’s outstanding run chase against West Indies has given them the confidence to beat any team in the World Cup, captain Mashrafe Mortaza said ahead of Thursday’s clash with in-form Australian at Trent Bridge.
Bangladesh overhauled West Indies’ total of 321 with 51 balls to spare on Monday. They also beat South Africa and lie fifth in the standings, well in contention for a semi-final spot with four matches to go.
“That was a must-win game for us to stay in the tournament. I know a few players in our dressing-room who believe we can beat anybody,” Mashrafe told reporters on Wednesday.
“Again, Australia is very difficult (to beat) but it’s not impossible. If you have a good start you never know, so let’s see.”
Bangladesh’s one-day international record against Australia has been poor, however, with only one win in 21 games against the defending champions who have won four of their first five games.
Australia fast bowlers Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins have taken a combined 24 wickets in the World Cup and Mashrafe said Bangladesh will be wary of them.
“I think the Australian bowling attack has a lot of variation,” Mashrafe said. “They have Pat Cummins, who can bowl with a change of pace. I think they have some good spinners. There’s Nathan Lyon (and Adam) Zampa.
“So it won’t be easy like the other matches but confidence is the main thing... If we took that confidence into the ground and deliver to our best, you never know.”
Bangladesh will count on all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who is the tournament’s leading scorer with 384 runs, and Mashrafe said the rest of the team must take a cue from his match-winning performances.
“Shakib is brilliant,” Mashrafe added. “Hopefully, he’ll keep going. The way he’s playing, I think we need to support him well as a team.
“(The) bowlers have to step up a little bit with what Shakib is doing. It’s going to be a good batting track. Our bowlers have to... bowl really well to restrict the Australians.”