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CHITTAGONG: It was yet another cliffhanger. It was tough to decipher as to which team wanted to lose it more. In the end, Bangladesh showed more stomach to stay alive in the competition pulling off a dramatic two-wicket win over England.

Scorecard | Match in Pics

It wasn't for the stars but two unlikely heroes in Shafiul Islam and Mahmudullah, who shared an unbeaten 58-run partnership for the ninth wicket that saw the Tigers scrape past England's modest total of 225 with six balls to spare at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium on Friday.

If it was a show of daredevilry from the tailenders, for England it was yet another case of shooting themselves in the foot more so after they had the hosts by the scruff of their neck having reduced them to 169 for 8 in 39.4 overs.

Just when it appeared that England were at a handshaking distance of making the quarterfinals, came in off-spinner Graeme Swann to bowl the last of his 10 overs in the 42nd over. Bangladesh then needed 55 from 54 balls, but Swann gave them 16 from just six balls with Shafiul swinging a four and six.

The slim hopes gave way to belief with James Anderson gifting another 11 runs in the 46th over starting with five wides down the leg side.

While England just failed to come to grips with the nerve-wracking moments, both Shafiul and Mahmudullah showed the guts to make it possible. While Shafiul's 24 n.o. came off 24 balls (4x4, 1x6), Mahmudullah's unbeaten 21 came off 42 balls (2x4).

The tail indeed had enough sting for the Tigers but at one stage they were cruising to victory at 155 for 3 in 30.5 overs before they ran themselves into big trouble.

Opener Imrul Kayes, who laid the foundation making a responsible 60 (100 balls, 5x4) chose to go for an unnecessary second run but was beaten by a sharp throw from Ajmal Shahzad from deep square leg.

Kayes, who also completed 1000 ODI runs in the process, had by then shared an 82-run stand with skipper Shakib Al Hasan (32; 58 balls, 1x4). Shakib on his part dragged one from outside the off-stump attempting a sweep to Swann.

The setback triggered a collapse and was reminiscent of their shoddy show versus the West Indies before the late fightback happened to save them their skin.

Opener Tamim Iqbal, who had begun with a flourish, was done in by one from Tim Bresnan which came in at 140 kmph.

Earlier, opting to bowl first on a track that kept low and slow, Bangladesh justified their decision restricting England to 225 with the home spinners and seamers alike tying up the English batsmen in knots. The visitors also paid the price for being overtly circumspect.

Pietersen's replacement Eoin Morgan, however, proved his worth playing a valuable knock scoring 63 runs off 78 balls. Jonathan Trott scored 67 from 99 balls. Trott hit only two fours but alongwith Morgan added 109 runs for the fourth wicket in 22 overs.

Tillakaratne Dilshan
Tillakaratne Dilshan celebrates after taking the wicket of Zimbabwe's batsman Craig Ervine, unseen, during the World Cup match between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in Pallekele. (AP Photo)
PALLEKELE: It took Tillakaratne Dilshan just 24 hours to hit the headlines again, this time for the right reasons. Almost all of Wednesday, rumour did rounds that explosive Sri Lankan opener has failed a dope test. The 'Dilshan scoop' died only after the Sri Lankan team management vehemently denied it.

Scorecard | Photos
Highest partnerships in World Cups

On Thursday, the 34-year-old first cracked 144 (131b, 16x4, 1x6), adding a record 282 for the opening wicket with fellow opener Upul Tharanga, who was equally good en route to his career-best 133 (141b, 17x4), and then took an amazing four for four with his part-time off-spin to dazzle in his team's crushing 139-run win over a hapless Zimbabwe in their World Cup Group A game. He would have bagged a hat-trick too, but missed out by a whisker as Mahela Jayawardene, after snapping up a blinder, grassed a much simpler chance.

It was also a perfect night for Sri Lankan off-spin legend and Kandy's 'local boy' Muttiah Muralitharan, who was playing his first and last ODI at the newly-built Pallikele International Stadium — which could soon be named after him. Coming in to bowl amid deafening cheers from a packed house of 35,000, Murali unleashed the deadly doosra to rattle the stumps of Zimbabwean opener Regis Chakabva, just as Sri Lanka looked a bit worried with Zimbabwe going great guns at 116 in the 20th over. As usual, it was Murali's fingers that turned the game, and the great bowler took three wickets in all to wrap up his farewell party.

Lanka scored 327 for six after being asked to bat first and were able to restrict the opposition to 188. Only Brendon Taylor put up some resistance with 80 (72b, 9x4, 1x6). Sangakkara & Co now go atop Group A and have qualified for the quarters.

Dilshan, it seemed, was fired up after what had transpired in the lead-up to this game. The fiery opener and Tharanga missed the world record stand for the first wicket by a mere four runs. Tharanga still has 50 percent ownership claims in the world record, having added 286 with Sanath Jayasuriya against England at Headingley in 2006.

They did break the World Cup record for highest opening partnerships, though. The previous mark stood against the names of the Pakistani pair of Saeed Anwar and Wajahatullah Wasti, who had put on 194 against New Zealand in the 1999 World Cup semifinal at Old Trafford.

LRPL Taylor’s was an explosive inning that seems to have absolutely changed the dynamics of the game. At one time New Zealand were struggling to score runs and reach 200 run mark. But now they have taken the upper hand with his 131 runs off 124 ball inning.

The Kiwis came into their own by scoring 92 invaluable runs in just 5 over, the fastest in more than a decade.

Pakistan’s beginning couldn’t have been worse as they lost Hafeez very early in the game. Southee has been bowling very fast and giving no room to the Pakistani cricket team.

Once the 11th edition World Cup unveiled with a thrilling India versus Bangladesh match, neighboring Pakistan was praying for a messiah who can give a healing touch the trouble stricken team. Millions of fans pinned their hopes on the green capers to lift their favorite Cup which was denied to host in their soil.

Captain Shahid Afridi emerged as an alchemist to stay tuned to such a great call from the land which was in clash with itself. As a marauding batsman Afridi had contributed a host of thrilling moments to the fans in and out of the country. But, the country needed a little more from this all rounder to keep the morale of 1992 title winners.

Yes, Afridi has done the job so perfectly. It seems more than enough to rule the roost in all three matches he played winning a hat-trick man of the match title and leading the team to a 3-0 winning streak. And Afridi would be the most –talked about player when Pakistan takes on Kiwis today at Pallekele International Stadium.

The man in green has displayed a great courage to sail a team from troubled waters and shed its tag as pirates of cricket world. Having put into the captaincy in an unfavorable condition Afridi had t mange the personal feelings with a team shattered with spot-fixing scandal.

Afridi who enjoys International cricket for one and half decade realized a change in personal career option may bring a great change to the team in total. As of now with 14 wickets in hands Afridi enjoys his decision "to be a bowler first and then a batsman.”

Yes this man with a lot of variety is the great sailor or savior of Pakistan cricket crew who are struggling to please the fans who lost the chance to host the mega event.