WC 2019: Mashrafe still aiming for semi-finals despite Australia loss

Bangladesh skipper Mushfiqur Rahim (102 not out) played a heroic knock to increase his team’s chances of qualifying for the World Cup semi-finals.

It might have been a historic night for the Bangla lions had David Warner not been dropped off Mashrafe's bowling on 10. Bangladesh skipper Mushfiqur Rahim (102 not out) played a heroic knock to increase his team’s chances of qualifying for the World Cup semi-finals. However, his effort still proved insufficient though the total was their best ever in ODIs. Australia’s left-handed opener David Warner helped the defending champions attain a comfortable 48-run win over a combative Bangladesh. The current top four in points table: Australia, New Zealand, England and India are starting to look uncatchable even though there are several rounds of group matches left. "I think still you never know," Mashrafe told reporters. "I think, we have still three matches left. We have to play hard and then let's see." "And it's going to be difficult for sure, even if we win all those three matches," added Mashrafe, whose side next play strugglers Afghanistan in Southampton on June 24. After Thursday's defeat against Australia, Bangladesh are two points behind fourth-placed India. "I think at this stage we thought a few matches would have been lost by the top four and the tournament would then have gone in a different way," said Mashrafe. "But there are still a few matches left, you never know. Let's see." Warner capitalised to score 166 in a total of 381-5 that effectively put the match beyond the reach of Bangladesh, who nevertheless responded with a gutsy 333-8 featuring Mushfiqur Rahim's unbeaten century. "We knew we have to pick up wickets," added Mashrafe, the sole survivor from the Tigers' celebrated 2005 one-day international win over Australia in Cardiff. "If not then it's going to be very difficult, which is exactly what happened. David Warner is batting so well."