Port of Spain: Who would have thought of it? Group B's last match, expected to be little more than an occasion to distribute brownie points, will decide which side joins Sri Lanka in the Super Eights.

Bangladesh is tipped to defeat Bermuda and make it through. But Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene dissented: "India is not out yet according to my calculations. It's a funny old game, cricket, and that's how it must be treated."

Nevertheless, Habibul Bashar will know that Sri Lanka's defeat of India has cleared the path for his side. He doesn't have to fuss with calculators and what-have-yous; Bangladesh would have entered the World Cup certain of winning one match — the side has to go out on Sunday and accomplish it.

Brilliant start

Bangladesh started with a stirring win against India: Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, Saqibul Hasan, and Mashrafe Mortaza played a brand of cricket that was as fearless as it was vibrant. Each of these players fit within Bangladesh's pattern — so marvellously exploited by Sri Lanka — and yet managed to step outside it. Crucially, the side hit India like an unexpected sock of stones to the jaw.

It seemed that Bangladesh's time was now, that a group of players unaffected by its past standing in world cricket would turn things around. The side, however, couldn't replicate the intensity or the skill against Sri Lanka. The limitations in bowling were exposed; the fielding had a rare off-day — coach Dav Whatmore said Bangladesh hadn't dropped a catch in six or seven months, and his fielders promptly put down a few.

Bermuda, on the other hand, has participated in two of the three worst defeats in World Cup cricket. It has no pretensions to victory. One of coach Gus Logie's goals is to ensure the match lasts 100 overs. Irving Romaine's team has drawn inspiration from Ireland's spectacular progress, but it remains realistic.

Promotion to Cann

A promotion to Lionel Cann so he can partner David Hemp in the middle-order is worth a punt. Cann has shown that he can deposit any bowler in any of the stands. He has a reasonable defensive technique when he chooses to exercise caution. If he can tap into Hemp's experience, the pair could prove dangerous.

Bermuda's trouble, however, has centred on its openers not getting runs. Mortaza had a bad game against Sri Lanka, but Bermuda's batsmen will have him keen.

Asked if his side would do India a favour by beating Bangladesh, Romaine, who has been an endless source of fresh, evocative quotes, said, "I don't know nothing about favours, man. The Indians are friendly, but so are the Bangladeshis."

Both sides turned up at the Queen's Park Oval on Friday to see Group B's marquee game — India against Sri Lanka. Little would they have imagined prior to the tournament that they would contest a marquee match in its own right on Sunday.

The squads (from): Bangladesh: Habibul Bashar (capt.), Shariar Nafees, Tamim Iqbal, Aftab Ahmed, Saqibul Hasan, Mohammad Ashraful, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mohammad Rafique, Abdur Razzak, Mashrafe Mortaza, Shahadat Hossain, Tapash Baisya, Syed Rasel, Rajin Saleh, and Javed Omar.

Bermuda: Irving Romaine (capt.), Dean Minors (wk), Delyone Borden, Lionel Cann, David Hemp, Kevin Hurdle, Malachi Jones, Stefan Kelly, Dwayne Leverock, Saleem Mukuddem, Steven Outerbridge, Oliver Pitcher, Clay Smith, Janeiro Tucker, and Kwame Tucker.

Umpires: Steve Davis and Ian Howell. Third umpire: Aleem Dar. Match Referee: Alan Hurst.

Hours of play (IST): 7 p.m. to 10.30 p.m. and 11.15 p.m. till close.

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