Bangladesh couldnt sustain NZ late pressure
Shanto blames erratic bowling by visitors for the defeat
Sports Reporter
The way Bangladesh lost the opening Test against the hosts New Zealand made former players unhappy like others. Bangladesh made declared 595-8 in first innings with the help of Shakib Al Hasans 217 and Mushfiqur Rahims 156 that raised a wave of hopes across the globe that Tigers will at least draw the Test match against New Zealanders.
But on the fifth and final day they meekly surrendered to the home side bowlers after the lunch break to add 94 runs at the cost of seven wickets.
Former skipper Roquibul Hasan said that criticism will be done as they lost being in position of drawing the match against high-ranked New Zealand.
He also said that their players could not sustain in the face of the pressure that dramatically changed the scenario of the match on the fourth day while they lost three early wickets.
Criticism will be made because Bangladesh lost Test in that place, from where no one expected such shocking defeat of the team. After the end of the third day, a logical conclusion was made that the match is drifting towards draw, said Roquibul Hasan.
It was seemed to me that the turning point was on fourth day when we started batting and lost Tamim along with Mahmudullah early following the retired hurt of opener Imrul Kayes. Then the batsman who came here as nightwatchman lost his way for paltry runs on fourth day. Really the pressure was created over Bangladesh from that stage, Hasan told The Independent at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium yesterday.
On the fifth day, the re-energized New Zealand fast bowlers desperately tried to allout Bangladesh and succeeded as they took wickets at regular intervals. Actually Bangladesh then could not sustain the pressure and could not stand tall against New Zealands bowling battery. It seemed to me that Bangladesh players psychologically felt pressure that they could not even draw the match, he added.
Citing the happy innings of Shakib and Mushfiq, alongside Imruls catch record and Sabbirs batting performance in second innings, the ex-captain admits that they should take all the positive sides from this match for the future success though the defeat outshines the individual records.
It may happen in cricket. But its a matter of sorrow that we always are in receiving end. We would be positive. Although this defeat saddens us all, there have some positive things no doubt to take up. In terms of individual performance, Shakibs double century, Mushfiqs century, Imrul Kayes catch record along with Sabbirs batting particularly in second innings did well, the 64-year-old said.
He blames our inexperienced bowlers, who could not defend the credit of the batsmen. But he indicates that it is not far away when Bangladesh will perform better or win Test at regular intervals.
Former fast bowler Hasibul Hossain Shanto on the other hand said that the result of the Test would have been different if their bowlers could bowl in right way maintaining the line and length.
We were lagging behind mostly in fast bowling. Bowlers could not defend the works of our batsmen. In that sense, our bowlers didnt do their jobs in right fashion, said Hasibul Hossain.
As a bowler, one should bowl in right place. Whatever he is fresher or older he is in the team by showing his better performance. So, they should bowl maintaining the right line and length. I think they could not do bowl in right ways. If they could bowl a bit in line then the result will be different, Shanto thinks.
But he echoed the same sentiment with Roquibul Hasan that they never think they will perform throughout the five days and play a competitive cricket.
