Bangladesh faces tough Irish test for survival

Agence France-Presse

The Tigers, who lost to India by 25 runs on Saturday, must win to keep their hopes alive of qualifying for the Super Eights. A defeat will send them packing from the 12-nation tournament. "We know this is a do-or-die match for us, so we have to be at our best," said Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful ahead of the group A game at Trent Bridge. "We can't afford to put a foot wrong now."

Ashraful said the experience of playing against defending champions India, where they scored 155-8 in reply to their rivals' 180-5, will hold the team in good stead.

"We learnt our lessons," he said. "I think we matched India well but just did not have good partnerships to keep going till the end.

"We bowled and fielded quite well. We must do the same again. The batsmen must put up enough runs on the board."

Opener Junaid Siddique tamed the Indian attack with 41 off 22 balls that contained three sixes and two boundaries, but none of the other top order batsmen were able to fire.

It was left to tailender Naeem Islam, who followed his two wickets with a 17-ball 28 to narrow the victory margin.

Bangladesh raced to 74 by the eighth over against the champions before India's left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha turned the match around with four wickets, including two in his first over. "We have to do much better against Ireland," said Ashraful. "I am not taking the Irish lightly. They know the conditions well and have nothing to lose."