Fall of early wickets sinks Bangladesh, says Shakib

The T20 might not be a favoured format for Bangladesh but still they could have made difference had they found the momentum, which they didn’t get in the first game against West Indies due to losing early wickets at St Kitts yesterday.

Despite the wicket had pace and bounce in abundance, it was ideal wicket for stroke-maker but Bangladeshi batsmen’s lack of T20 expertise came into the fore, as they couldn’t apply them according to the demand of the situation.

Opener Tamim Iqbal who hit two centuries in the ODI series and was adjudged man of the series was stumped at the very first ball by off-spinner Ashley Nurse and thereby became the first international batsman in this format to be victimized by such kind of dismissal in the very first ball.

Following the footsteps of Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar who was included into the team by the direct advocacy of the team management, got a golden duck, making Bangladesh two down for just five.

Skipper Shakib Al Hasan and Liton Das though shared a good partnership; they also departed in the short space, when a total like 170/180 was on the card. Still Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad could take Bangladesh to expected score but they also were removed in a short space. Bangladesh were finally restricted to 143 for nine.  After rain had delayed start of the match, it came back again before the West Indies chase, delaying proceedings by an hour which led to the target for the hosts being reduced to 91 runs in 11 overs.

According to Bangladesh T20 skipper Shakib Al Hasan it was always going to be difficult defending that total, specially in this kind of wicket which played well for the stroke-maker. West Indies are a side, filled with explosive batsmen, so Shakib’s anticipation was right.

He however rued for losing wickets in a cluster which, according to him, did not let them get the momentum to take the score past 170/180. Shakib believed such kind of total could have been winning one, despite West Indies’s expertise in this format.

“In this kind of wicket, defending 91 is actually very difficult, specially when they have a side filled with explosive batsmen,” he said.

“What was worst part of the game was that we lost wickets at crucial stages. Even after the early wickets, me and Liton had a good partnership but we lost our wickets in the last over of the Powerplay.”

Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad got going well and starred in an 24-ball 47-run partnership for the fifth wicket before  Mushfiqur fell in the 10th over with the score on 90 -- at a point where Bangladesh were beginning to look like they could post a commanding total.

“Mushfiq bhai and (Mahmudullah) Riyad bhai had a good partnership, and then Mushfiq bhai lost his wicket. We lost wickets at crucial stages and that is why we never had the momentum.

“This is why we could not make a big score. I think it was a 170 or 180 wicket and without a score like that, it was difficult to come back.”

Bangladesh and West Indies now will travel to Florida, USA to play the rest of the two matches of the series, scheduled to be held on August 5 and 6.

Fall of early wickets sinks Bangladesh, says Shakib

The T20 might not be a favoured format for Bangladesh but still they could have made difference had they found the momentum, which they didnt get in the first game against West Indies due to losing early wickets at St Kitts yesterday. Despite the wicket had pace and bounce in abundance, it was ideal wicket for stroke-maker but Bangladeshi batsmens lack of T20 expertise came into the fore, as they couldnt apply them according to the demand of the situation. Opener Tamim Iqbal who hit two centuries in the ODI series and was adjudged man of the series was stumped at the very first ball by off-spinner Ashley Nurse and thereby became the first international batsman in this format to be victimized by such kind of dismissal in the very first ball. Following the footsteps of Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar who was included into the team by the direct advocacy of the team management, got a golden duck, making Bangladesh two down for just five. Skipper Shakib Al Hasan and Liton Das though shared a good partnership; they also departed in the short space, when a total like 170/180 was on the card. Still Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad could take Bangladesh to expected score but they also were removed in a short space. Bangladesh were finally restricted to 143 for nine. After rain had delayed start of the match, it came back again before the West Indies chase, delaying proceedings by an hour which led to the target for the hosts being reduced to 91 runs in 11 overs. According to Bangladesh T20 skipper Shakib Al Hasan it was always going to be difficult defending that total, specially in this kind of wicket which played well for the stroke-maker. West Indies are a side, filled with explosive batsmen, so Shakibs anticipation was right. He however rued for losing wickets in a cluster which, according to him, did not let them get the momentum to take the score past 170/180. Shakib believed such kind of total could have been winning one, despite West Indiess expertise in this format. In this kind of wicket, defending 91 is actually very difficult, specially when they have a side filled with explosive batsmen, he said. What was worst part of the game was that we lost wickets at crucial stages. Even after the early wickets, me and Liton had a good partnership but we lost our wickets in the last over of the Powerplay. Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad got going well and starred in an 24-ball 47-run partnership for the fifth wicket before Mushfiqur fell in the 10th over with the score on 90 -- at a point where Bangladesh were beginning to look like they could post a commanding total. Mushfiq bhai and (Mahmudullah) Riyad bhai had a good partnership, and then Mushfiq bhai lost his wicket. We lost wickets at crucial stages and that is why we never had the momentum. This is why we could not make a big score. I think it was a 170 or 180 wicket and without a score like that, it was difficult to come back. Bangladesh and West Indies now will travel to Florida, USA to play the rest of the two matches of the series, scheduled to be held on August 5 and 6.