Tigers dedicate victory to freedom fighters

Bangladesh have dedicated their historic win over England to the freedom fighters who liberated the country in 1971.

The Tigers stormed into the quarterfinals of the World Cup, beating England by 15 runs in a breathtakingly tight finish on Monday at Adelaide Oval.

Mahmudullah’s ton, the first by a Bangladeshi in the World Cup, and Mushfiqur Rahim’s 89 helped Bangladesh put up a challenging 275 for 7 in 50 overs.

English batsmen struggled losing wickets regularly but kept themselves in the hunt, thanks to half-centuries by Ian Bell and Jos Buttler.

But they crumbled under the attacking bowling by skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Rubel Hossain and Taskin Ahmed.

Rubel picked up the last wickets in the 49th over, helping Bangladesh to the quarterfinals for the first time.

Captain Mashrafe, donning Bangladesh’s red and green flag on his head, remembered the heroes who fought for the flag in 1971.

“This [win] is for all the freedom fighters of Bangladesh,” he told Nick Knight at the award ceremony after the match.

He thanked all fans who took out the time and supported the Tigers in the crucial match.

Mashrafe said the win was for “all those people working very hard".

This World Cup has seen Bangladesh's increasingly nationalistic and assertive diaspora come good with supporters turning in even remote venues.

Today, the team did the millions of their countrymen proud.