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BSP-13
CRICKET-BD-NZ-TAYLOR
Tigers win against New Zealand won’t be an upset: Taylor
DHAKA, June 4, 2019 (BSS) – New Zealand senior batsman Ross Taylor said if Bangladesh win against the Kiwis in their next match it should not be labelled as upset.
Bangladesh on Sunday beat South Africa by 21 runs after posting their ODI highest 330-6. Despite their victory in comprehensive manner, the victory has been widely regarded as upset, which took Bangladesh’s players by surprise and made them disappointed all the through.
Even Shakib Al Hasan had to say, “We don’t believe it upset but the World didn’t take into account.”
However, Mashrafe’s team got an endorsement from a player of the team who they are going to take on in their second match of the World Cup on Wednesday.
“A lot has been made of it being a big upset,” Taylor told the reporters ahead of their clash against Bangladesh. “But I probably wouldn’t call it that.”
“I think Bangladesh, in their own right, are very good and must be one of the dark horses for this tournament.”
Taylor’s comment might be a strategy to take the pressure off on them or impose pressure on Bangladesh but New Zealand faced the heat of Bangladesh quite some times.
Bangladesh eliminated the Kiwis from the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017 in England, beating them by five wickets despite struggling at 33-4. Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah Riyad struck centuries to confirm Bangladesh’s semifinal for the first time in any global event.
Shakib, however, proved to be the nemesis of Kiwis time and again and therefore Ross Taylor was concerned about the ace all-rounder’s impact in the match.
“We know how they can play and Shakib does add a lot more to the balance of their side as well,” Taylor said.
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