Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh | Performance in first 10 overs with batting and bowling lost us the game, asserts Mushfiqur Rahim
Mushfiqur Rahim, who scored a 110-ball 98 in the second ODI, has stated that the team’s performance in the powerplay was the major reason behind the team’s loss. Rahim also added that Bangladesh need to up their ante as far as the fielding is concerned and should enhance their catching skills.
While Avishka Fernando lived up to his “future superstar” tag by smashing the Bangladesh bowlers left, right and center in the powerplay, the hosts did well to restrict the opposition to a modest 35/2 in the first 10 overs to put them on the backfoot. For the Tigers, it was Mushfiqur Rahim who was trying hard to keep up the tempo but by the time he stepped in, the team was not enjoying the best of positions in the game. As the result went against them, the veteran blamed the performance in the first 10 overs as the major reason for the loss.
"On that track, if we had started well, we could have scored 270-280 runs, then it could have been a different ball game. But at the end, I thought it's a challenging score if we bowl the first 10 overs really well. But we couldn't do that because we had given so many easy boundaries. They knew that later it would be very difficult to score on that track, and we had an extra spinner playing. So, I think the first 10 overs with the batting and bowling lost us the game," Rahim told reporters after the match, reported Cricbuzz.
"I think today's wicket was slow compared to the first ODI. It was less grassy too, so we couldn't easily start scoring, and it also offered some spin. It was like an up and down wicket. So, we knew if we could score around 270-280, then it would be very challenging. I think we didn't execute well in the first 10-15 overs with the bat and that cost us the game."
This was the best chance for Bangladesh to win their first-ever series against Sri Lanka, especially considering the depleted run of form that the hosts are going through. Sri Lanka were without a series win for a colossal 44 months and that made Rahim rue the opportunity.
"Obviously, it's disappointing because if you look at our ODI stats for the last four or five years, we have been tremendous and that's why we came at the seventh position in the ODI ranking. That shows how good we were in the last four-five years. But you have to do well over and over and it's very difficult. It's essential that you do the basics well because win or loss it's just an outcome. I only look at the process that we didn't do well with the bat, with the ball and in the field. Sri Lanka did better than us," Rahim said.
While batting and bowling were not even close to good, their fielding has to be the biggest let down in the tournament. The sloppy performance on the outfield and the lethargic attempts while trying to get to the ball ensured Bangladesh were behind the eight ball from the word go. Rahim asserted that the team needs to do better if they want to do well in the future.
"We need to work hard and we need to be smarter with our fielding. I think it needs a lot of courage and a lot of hard work to do well in fielding and it takes a lot of pride, too, because you are playing for your country. Every run you save is important. It's about fitness, a bit of mental challenge and also attitude," said Rahim.
0
0
0
0
0
0
Comments
Sign up or log in to your account to leave comments and reactions
0 Comments