From Jamaica Observer

ADELAIDE, Australia (AFP) – Bangladesh knocked England out of the World Cup on Monday sparking scenes of wild celebration for the Asian whipping boys’ millions of long-suffering fans and widespread derision for the game’s inventors.

Mohammad Mahmudullah smashed 103 to become the first Bangladesh player to make a World Cup century while brother-in-law Mushfiqur Rahim made 89 as the Tigers clinched a nail-biting 15-run win to reach the quarter-finals for the first time.

They had to recover from being eight for two to post a challenging 275 for seven after being sent in to bat in overcast conditions.

England, needing a victory to stay afloat after winning just one of their previous four Pool A matches, were bowled out for 260 as seamer Rubel Hossain claimed four wickets and wicket-keeper Rahim held four catches.

Ian Bell made 63 but England slipped to 163 for six before Jos Buttler (65 off 52 balls) and Chris Woakes (42 not out) briefly revived their hopes with a 75-run stand for the seventh wicket.

But the dismissals of Buttler and Chris Jordan off successive balls in the 46th over turned the match Bangladesh’s way.

“It was pretty poor, to be knocked out of the World Cup is unbelievably disappointing,” said England captain Eoin Morgan, whose side will bow out having failed to beat a Test nation at the tournament with their only win thus far against Scotland.

This was Bangladesh’s third win over England in their last four one-day internationals, including the two-wicket success in Chittagong during the previous World Cup four years ago.

“I feel very proud,” said Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza, who led his side superbly in the field.

“Mahmudullah scored his first hundred for Bangladesh, and Mushfiqur was also brilliant at the end.

“I think Rubel Hossain will be very happy as he picked up four crucial wickets. We had a good combination today, especially with the seven batsmen. They showed their guts, and the bowlers then did a very good job.”

Victory meant Bangladesh assured themselves of a place in the knockout phase even before their last pool match against co-hosts New Zealand while England will return home after their closing ‘dead’ league match against Afghanistan in Sydney on Friday.

Besieged England coach Peter Moores, in his second spell at the helm, insisted he would not make any hasty decisions over his future.

“Well, it’s certainly not my decision. I said yesterday I’m here to try and make a difference. Certainly on a day like today you look at it and you know we have a lot of work to do in one-day cricket,” he said.

“All you know is it’s a game we felt we should have won. We’ve just got to take that on the chin.”

Condemnation of England’s exit was swift and brutal.

“Well done Bangladesh! England pathetic! When are we going to pick the selectors to pick a team for the one-day format? Time for change,” wrote former England all-rounder Ian Botham on Twitter.

Kevin Pietersen, controversially exiled from the England squad last year, tweeted: “I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS! I JUST CANNOT! But, well done Bangladesh! You deserved it!”

Mahmudullah and Rahim put on 141 off 144 balls for the fifth wicket after Bangladesh were struggling at 99 for four in the 22nd over.

Mahmudullah, who hit seven fours and a six in his maiden one-day international century, surpassed the previous highest individual Bangladesh score at a World Cup of 95 by team-mate Tamim Iqbal against Scotland last week.

Rahim’s 77-ball knock contained eight boundaries and a six.

Soumya Sarkar, a 22-year-old left-hander playing only his fifth ODI, teamed up with Mahmudullah to retrieve the situation with an 86-run stand for the third wicket. He made 40.

Bell and Moeen Ali gave England a flying start with an opening stand of 43 off 44 balls when a messy run out cost Ali his wicket.

Alex Hales marked his first appearance in the tournament by helping Bell add 52 for the second wicket, before he was caught behind off Mortaza for 27.

Rubel then dismissed Bell and Morgan (nought) in four deliveries to make it 121 for four in the 27th over and from that point on, England were struggling.

IMAGE: Bangladeshi players celebrate the fall of an English wicket

For more on this story go to: https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/Bangladesh-shock-England-to-reach-World-Cup-quarter-finals