Bangladesh sense their time has come

NELSON: Fired-up Bangladesh sense a World Cup quarter-final berth will be one match away by close of play in Nelson today as they prepare to play a disconsolate Scotland.

Both sides are coming off a seven-day break following losses but their attitudes are polar opposites heading into the Pool A encounter.

While Bangladesh are talking up the future despite being thrashed by Sri Lanka, Scotland are weighed down by the past where their loss to Afghanistan a week ago made them the worst performing side in World Cup history.

They were devastated to lose to the tournament newcomers after having Afghanistan on the ropes at 97-7 chasing 211 and letting them steal victory with three balls to spare.

Losing to Afghanistan left the Scots with the unwelcome record of having been beaten in all 11 matches they have played in three World Cups, overtaking the Netherlands who suffered 10 consecutive defeats.

The future does not look too bright for Scotland either for if they fail to beat Bangladesh then they have Sri Lanka and Australia to come and the record could balloon out to 0-14.

Bangladesh, meanwhile, are upbeat despite losing to Sri Lanka by 92 runs.

Having been eliminated in pool play in three of the previous World Cups they have contested, they now believe they can emulate their 2007 achievement of making the last eight when they finished the group stage ahead of India.

They lie third in the Pool A table, ahead of Australia on run rate, and know they are assured of a quarter-final berth if they win two of their last three games against winless Scotland, misfiring England and unbeaten New Zealand.

“I think they are desperate to play a very big game for Bangladesh,” fielding coach Richard Halsall said. “The great thing is we win two out of the next three games, we are through to the quarter-finals.”