PHOTO: AFP

FANTASTIC: An overjoyed Habibul Bashar celebrates Stephen Outerbridge's dismissal with Mashrafe Mortaza, as other Bangladeshi players rush in to congratulate. — Photo: AP

Port of Spain: Never ask locals about weather. For, one, they'll volunteer it anyway, and two, they'll get it wrong. The few that were on the streets leading to the Queen's Park Oval - Port of Spain, leached of traffic, resembles a ghost town on Sundays — were at pains to point out the weather would hold.

Perhaps, it was keenness to get their part of the World Cup done with. There is a feeling here that Trinidad, despite its rich cricketing history, has been given the short shrift while allocating games. Some think the administrators should have canvassed for Super Eight games at the very least.

But, the Queen's Park Oval still had a date with history on Sunday. Bangladesh needed to win to make it past the first round for the first time since its first World Cup in 1999.

The crucial Group B match — it's good to know a few Indians haven't given up hope or prayer — got as far as the toss before the clouds burst. Habibul Bashar had chosen to field.

The covers were nailed in place. The jukebox played the World Cup song ad nauseum until propriety gave way to boredom. The top dancehall and reggae numbers sparked a brief party in the Jeffrey Stollmeyer Stand as the rain — often no more than an infuriating dribble — refused to relent for two hours.

The umpires shortened the match to 41 overs-a-side. Bermuda lost Stephen Outerbridge (0), caught at fine leg, before it started to rain again. Six overs were shaved off per innings as the match restarted 49 minutes later.

Mortaza strikes

Mashrafe Mortaza took his second wicket when Delyone Borden (2) miscued to mid-off. Syed Rasel had David Hemp, who made a half-century against India, caught at point. By then, the shower was sufficiently serious for the umpires to take the players off the field.

The match was reduced to 30 overs-a-side as play began under a drizzle. Two balls later, they were off. And they were on again. Bermuda reached 45 for four in 15.1 overs before rains came again.

Skipper Irving Romaine (11) was adjudged leg before. Oliver Pitcher (18) and Dean Minors (6) were the unbeaten batsmen.

To constitute a match, a minimum of 20 overs has to be bowled to Bangladesh, subject of course to the innings not being completed earlier. The match can continue on Monday, the reserve day, but a washed-out game will give Bangladesh one point and put it in the Super Eight.

More than heart-warming

While some critics have unkindly ridiculed a format that has allowed Bangladesh this far on a day's work, the side's impending progress must be celebrated. There have been grave doubts about cricket's ability to sustain itself as it spreads far. In this context, the success of Bangladesh and Ireland is more than merely heart-warming.

Cricket's intrinsic complexity drives deep wedges of disparity between the haves and the have-nots. That Ireland and Bangladesh defeated established teams such as Pakistan and India shows something is being done right at some level. Neither was a freak upset — both sides played good cricket, and even factoring for the inconsistency of Pakistan and India, and the volatile nature of the one-day version, the wins were earned not handed.

"This is good for world cricket. It shows that cricket is expanding. We have played some very good cricket and Ireland has also qualified by playing well," said Bashar.

"It is true that if you have two groups then you get more matches and have a better chance of recovering from a bad result but those who are criticising the current format should also remember that the so-called big teams actually wanted it so that they don't have to play `inconsequential' matches against weaker teams. If you are a top side then you should have what it takes to qualify."

SCOREBOARD

Bermuda: S. Outerbridge c Rafique b Mortaza 0, O. Pitcher (batting) 18, D. Borden c Bashar b Mortaza 2, D. Hemp c Aftab b Rasel 0, I. Romaine lbw Razzak 11, D. Minors (batting) 6, Extras (lb-2, nb-4, w-2) 6, Total (for four wkts. in 15.1 overs) 45.

Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-8, 3-11, 4-35.

Bangladesh bowling: Mortaza 4-0-8-2, Rasel 5-0-14-1, Razzak 3-0-13-1, Rafique 2.1-0-6-0, Hasan 1-0-2-0.

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