Cricket has an uncanny way of producing narratives that defy logic, and the Pool B encounter between Bangladesh and Canada at Kingsmead in the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup was a testament to the sport’s capricious charm. On paper, Bangladesh—armed with several years of international experience and the memory of their 1999 World Cup upset over Pakistan—seemed the logical favourite. Canada, returning to the World Cup stage after a 24-year hiatus, were the quintessential underdogs. Yet, as the floodlights bore witness to an extraordinary twist, it was the Canadians who emerged victorious, scripting one of the tournament’s first major upsets.
A Modest Beginning
The contest began predictably enough, with Bangladesh’s medium pacers, Mashrafe Mortaza and Manjural Islam, dictating terms. Their disciplined line and length stifled Canada’s openers, forcing them into defensive postures. Mortaza, with his characteristic aggression, bowled John Davison with a delivery that uprooted the stumps, while Tapash Baisya dismissed Ismail Maraj, who succumbed to a mistimed shot.
Desmond Chumney offered a fleeting glimpse of resistance, his 28 off 25 balls punctuated by crisp boundaries and a towering six. Yet his adventurous spirit led to his downfall, run out in a moment of misjudgment. Canada’s innings wavered as wickets fell in regular succession. Skipper Joseph Harris, attempting an ambitious sweep, gloved Sanwar Hossain to Khaled Mashud behind the stumps. Nicholas de Groot, too, perished tamely, a leading edge finding its way to Alok Kapali at mid-off.
Amid the ruins, Ian Billcliff stood tall. His composed 42 off 63 balls, adorned with six boundaries, was a masterclass in anchoring an innings under duress. However, his dismissal—run out in a mix-up—further dented Canada’s momentum. Despite the steady fall of wickets, Canada’s tailenders eked out precious runs, lifting the total to 180 in 49.1 overs. It was a score that appeared modest, yet, as the evening would reveal, it was a total imbued with quiet menace.
The Chase That Faltered
Bangladesh’s response began with promise but soon unravelled dramatically. The Canadian bowlers, though erratic initially, quickly found their rhythm. Davis Joseph struck the first blow, dismissing Al Sahariar with a delivery that was dragged to mid-on. Habibul Bashar followed soon after, undone by his own indecisiveness, edging Sanjay Thuraisingam to wicketkeeper Ashish Bagai.
The turning point came when Hannan Sarkar, who looked solid during his 25-run knock, fell to Austin Codrington, edging a loose drive to Bagai. At 46 for three, Bangladesh found themselves in uncharted waters. Ehsanul Haque and Sanwar Hossain briefly steadied the ship, adding 30 runs, but the Canadian bowlers, led by Codrington, kept probing.
Codrington’s spell was a masterclass in medium-pace bowling. Seam movement and impeccable control forced the Bangladeshi batsmen into errors. Ehsanul, feathering an edge to Bagai, and Sanwar, trapped in front by Davison, were his key scalps. The lower order fared no better. Alok Kapali, Khaled Mashud, and Tapash Baisya succumbed to a combination of poor shot selection and Codrington’s relentless accuracy.
The final act came when Mohammad Rafique, Bangladesh’s last hope, fell to Codrington’s guile, pulling a delivery straight to midwicket. Codrington’s figures of 5 for 27 were not only the first five-wicket haul of the tournament but also a poetic culmination of a spell that had broken Bangladesh’s spirit.
A Night to Remember
As Canada celebrated their 60-run victory, the parallels with Bangladesh’s own triumph over Pakistan in 1999 were hard to ignore. Then, it was Bangladesh defying the odds; now, they were on the receiving end of cricket’s cyclical unpredictability.
For Canada, the win was more than just two points—it was a validation of their collective grit and a reminder of cricket’s egalitarian charm. For Bangladesh, it was a humbling lesson, a stark reminder that experience alone does not guarantee success.
On a floodlit night at Kingsmead, cricket reaffirmed its timeless allure, proving once again that the contest between so-called minnows can be as riveting as any clash of titans.
Thank You
Faisal Caesar
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