Bangladesh have nothing to lose and everything to gain when they face off against one of the World Cup favourites, India, in the second quarter final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 2:30pm (AEDT) and post your comments on the match below.
India have consistently stamped their authority so far this competition, but in their quest for consecutive World Cups the knock out stages is where they will need to perform.
After a dodgy summer touring Australia, the Indians have defied their critics, remaining perfect in the group stages, claiming some big scalps in the process.
Their opponents today claimed their quarter final spot thanks both to the shared points they received against Australia at a rainy Gabba, and their inspiring win against England that sent the Brits packing.
To have judged Pool A pre-tournament, it would have taken a brave soul to bet that India’s neighbours to the east would be featuring at this stage of the competition. But here now, they have a chance to claim what would be one of the nation’s most famous cricketing achievements.
If the underdog has any chance today, lots will need to go right. In all games this tournament, despite against Sri Lanka, Bangladesh have been able to take early wickets, and they will need to achieve this again today.
Putting early pressure on the Indian batsmen won’t be enough however, as good work done early in the innings can easily be undone by India’s big hitters if Bangladesh become loose at the death.
It is difficult to see India’s batting attack succumbing to a total collapse, but a complete performance with the ball could contain the scoring.
With the bat in hand Bangladesh will then have to find some rhythm against the fearsome bouncers of Mohammed Shami and Mohit Sharma. Like South Africa’s quicks yesterday, they will come raging out of the blocks.
In Bangladesh’s favour is the lack of expectation. Their fans are already so proud of their performance at this World Cup, so they should enter this game with the freedom of mind that all they can do is try to play out of their skins and hope some crucial decisions fall in their favour.
Will India charge on and stay perfect in the 2015 World Cup? Or can Bangladesh produce a stunning upset?
Join The Roar for live scores and coverage of the second quarter final between India and Bangladesh from 2:30pm (AEDT). If you are following the action live, be sure to share your thoughts on the match in the comments below.
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
Raz, ok. I'll write the exact opposite of the truth for you. India wins: India were better in all aspects. Nothing was in their favour, the pitch was a minefield for them to bat on and a road for them to bowl on. They're all angels on the field and save kittens off it, and the umpires were against them from ball one, yet they won. And their board has solved hunger and poverty across all Indian society. India loses [sic]: Oh they were so unlucky! India were better in all aspects. Nothing was in their favour, the pitch was a minefield for them to bat on and a road for them to bowl on. They're all angels on the field and save kittens off it, and the umpires were against them from ball one, and because of that, they lost. And their board has solved hunger and poverty across all Indian society, and they should leave the tour immediately! (actually that last part may have some truth to it) This is what you want The Roar to be.
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
So it's either India v Australia or India v Pakistan. Either way, Central station, Moore Park and Surry Hills is going to be amazing next Thursday!
ismail
Guest
Your comment bangladesh is a very good team .today bangladesh can win,if umpire call correctly.so today bangladesh has played owsome!
Babu Losan
Guest
I love to india
Sid
Guest
At least two Bangladeshi key players (including Sakib) seems to have under performed against India because they want to play in the next IPL. That's the sort of advantage India has over the other teams...
raz
Guest
india wins :bcci made the pitch ,umpires protect india blaah blaah blaah India looses:oh they are rubbish This is roar for you.
raz
Guest
No drs??? Really ???
Shoinik
Guest
"The difference between the two sides suggests that the result would have stayed the same anyway" You never know my friend! There is a difference between chasing 255 and chasing 302. BD's batting approach would have been different even if the score was 275. Win or lose, the game would have been much closer. Raina was lucky to escape as well. The trajectory of the ball was slightly different on the Hawk-Eye. If you look at the replay before that or the actual ball in real time you would see it. They just showed it once. India bowled and fielded beautifully, no question about that but their batting was not as invincible as the scorecard would suggest.
raz
Guest
Only this world cup has been a batting fest,even the last world cup in 2011 ,which was india had much better and closer games. Pitches in australia have been a disgrace,nz pitches were better.
raz
Guest
Yeah and a new pitch was ordered during the innings break for bangladesh,reasonable.
Vikram
Guest
Just before the world cup started i stated that india has best 4th and 5th baller in the current ODI format ''big pressure matches betsman do make mistake'' vittoreee aswin jadeja are the ballers for that 1 they are good enough 2 not easy to score singles (with 5men in) 3 they complete overs quickly peaches in icc events these days are good for batting which makes indiand batting more stronger and gives self believe just chq Dhavan's record in icc events
Lord Lubukdas
Guest
So India have predictability won. For a team which has a "weak" bowling attack they have taken all 70 wickets. I suspect India will prefer Australia in the SF. While the record against Pakistan has been great in WC the law of averages may just catch up. I predicted earlier and will repeat again, Final is between India and NZ.
Ross Lawson
Roar Guru
And that's all we have for you tonight, as India go through from this rather one-sided affair. We're back tomorrow for the big one: It's Australia v Pakistan. Do join us for that. Until then, ta ra.
Ross Lawson
Roar Guru
Rohit Sharma is named man of the match for his excellent 137, although he was dubiously ajudged not out when the umpires deemed that Taskin Ahmed bowled a ball over Sharma's waist. He was on 90 at the time. The difference between the two sides suggests that the result would have stayed the same anyway, although Bangladesh did put up a decent fight before falling 109 runs short. They'll look back on the latter half of the India innings when their bowling wasn't as potent as it was in the early stage of the effort. Let's remember though, they've achieved highly in reaching the last eight. Result. India 302-6 (R Sharma 137, Raina 65; Taskin 3/69) beat Bangladesh 193 (Hossain 35; Yadav 4/31) by 109 runs
Ross Lawson
Roar Guru
Two wickets in three balls sees Bangladesh out of the World Cup, losing by 109 runs at the quarter-final stage. India, meanwhile, go through to the semi-final stages and await Australia or Pakistan in the last four.
Ross Lawson
Roar Guru
Yadav is back into the attack trying to mop up the tail, and he does half of the job as Rubel Hossain is gone for a duck. OUT Rubel Hossain 0 (3) c Ravi Ashwin b Umesh Yadav OUT Sabbir Rehman 30 (40) c Mohammed Shami b Umesh Yadav And that is the game. Bangladesh all out for 191.
Ross Lawson
Roar Guru
110 needed now, from 34 balls, Even the most optimistic of fans must rule this one out for Bangladesh!
Ross Lawson
Roar Guru
Mashrafe Mortaza the new man, but that's all elementary now. OUT Mashrafe Mortaza 1 (3) c MS Dhoni b Mohit Sharma Poke from Mortaza to a ball outside off and he edges through to Dhoni. 8-192 (44 overs)
Ross Lawson
Roar Guru
FOUR, FOUR, OUT. OUT Nasir Hossain 35 (34) c Rohit Sharma b Ravi Jadeja Just as he was getting into full swing, Hossain succumbs to Jadeja as he picks out Ashwin at short cover. He'd just hit two boundaries off the same bowler, to third man and midwicket respectively. 7-189 (43 overs)
Ross Lawson
Roar Guru
Another boundary for Hossain, his fourth, off Mohit Sharma, but the run rate required is now the wrong side of 15. 6-179 (42 overs)