BAN vs SL 2018: Mahmudullah blames his bowlers for T20I opener loss

Second T20I will be played on Sunday at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.

Bangladesh went 1-0 down in the two-match T20I series against Sri Lanka | Getty Images

Stand-in skipper –Mahmudullah on Thursday blamed his bowlers’ inability to defend their highest T20 International total for their defeat in the series opener of the two-match T20I series against Sri Lanka.

On February 15, Bangladesh had won the toss and chose to bat first. The Tigers batted brilliantly as Soumya Sarkar (51) and  Mushfiqur Rahim (66) scored fifties to ensure that Bangladesh post their highest t20I total as the finished on 193 for 5 in their 20 overs. 

However,  things changed when Lanka came to bat as bowlers’ failed to save the runs for Bangladesh, and Islanders chased down the target in just 16.4 overs, ending their losing spree of eight T20Is, won the game by 6-wicket at The Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur.

According to a report in Cricbuzz, Mahmudullah said, “You can say we are behind Sri Lanka in terms of results. They bowled the yorkers very well towards the end. We had to work hard to find runs. Mushfiqur struck his reverse sweeps very well, especially against the full balls. Our bowlers couldn't quite bowl that length. We should have defended 193.”

Commenting on his bowlers, Mahmudullah said, “As a bowling group, we have to find out how and where to bowl in certain times. We have to create pressure with dot balls. You have to bowl all out in these wickets - either bowl yorkers or proper bouncers - according to the strength of the batsmen. We could have made a little more [runs] but I still felt 193 was a good score. But our bowlers didn't bowl in the right lengths. The line was still fine. We also didn't take early wickets which is always important.”

He also said Mohammad Saifuddin, who conceded 33 runs in the 2 overs on Thursday, will learn from the experience and win matches for Bangladesh one day.

Mahmudullah signed off by saying, “I think he had a bad game but he couldn't execute his plans. He didn't bowl in the lengths for which I set his fields. I think he will work on it. The length was important on this good batting wicket. A bit of room is dangerous here, especially in the Powerplay overs. [His bowling] isn't looking bad.

He will learn with experience. I believe Saifuddin will one-day win matches for Bangladesh. But he has to learn quickly. We win and lose as a team, so no point in blaming Saifuddin. Our whole bowling unit failed, except Nazmul Islam who bowled well for his debut game.”

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 16 Feb, 2018

    Share Via