Mehidy laments lack of substantial partnerships against Sri Lanka as their wait for a series win in SL continues.
Mehidy laments lack of big partnerships, which cost Bangladesh the game.
After losing by 99 runs in the third ODI against Sri Lanka in Pallekele, Bangladesh’s ODI skipper, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, lamented the absence of significant partnerships that may have kept the visitors going in their 286-run chase. After losing the previous Test series, Bangladesh wasted the ODI series 2-1 with the defeat.
Bangladesh failed to construct a similar stand, according to Mehidy, while Sri Lanka capitalised on a 124-run fourth-wicket stand between captain Charith Asalanka and batsman Kusal Mendis after they were in trouble.
“When [Towhid] Hridoy and Jaker [Ali] were batting together, I still believed we could win the game,” Mehidy said. “We just couldn’t put together partnerships like Sri Lanka. They had a big partnership after they lost three wickets for 100 runs. Partnerships in the middle overs are crucial. We got a couple of 40s, but winning is hard without these partnerships in ODI cricket.”
Hridoy, who led Bangladesh in scoring with 51, had 42- and 43-run partnerships with Mehidy and Parvez Hossain Emon. But after starting, none of the hitters were able to continue.
“We are getting out soon after getting set,” Mehidy said. “We can’t keep the momentum for too long. We have to work on it. When I was batting with Hridoy today, we nearly grabbed the momentum. Then I got out. Momentum is required for a partnership. Strike rotation is important in a partnership. We have to play more low-risk cricket, not the high-risk cricket we are playing.”
Mehidy said that Bangladesh’s inability to bat out the 50 overs in any of the three games is another cause for concern. The first ODI in Colombo saw them knocked out in 35.5 overs, the second in 48.5 overs, and the third in 39.4 overs.