DHAKA, Jan 25, 2020 (BSS) – Bangladesh captain Mahmudullah Riyad regretted for the batting debacle in the second T20 against Pakistan, stating that they couldn’t apply them well which caused their nine-wicket defeat.
The heavy defeat came a day after their five-wicket loss to Pakistan in the first match, which meant they had already lost the three-match series.
Bangladesh piled up only 136-6 despite a 53 ball-65 from Tamim Iqbal. Pakistan however gunned down the target in just 16.4 overs thanks to half-century from Mohammad Hafeez and skipper Babar Azam.
“It’s really disappointing to lose. We specially couldn’t apply ourselves with the bat. The exception was Tamim Iqbal but we couldn’t support him well,” Mahmudullah said after the match.
In what turned out to be Bangladesh’s must-win game in three-match series, the Tigers yet to again won the toss and opted to bat first but the middle order failed to show any unwavering resolve in batting.
Tamim held together the innings and clobbered seven fours and one six in his knock before being run-out in the 18th over. Afif Hossain made 21 off 20 while captain Mahmudullah Riyad scored 12.
Mahmudullah said they even couldn’t finish off the innings well when there were enough wickets at hands. Bangladesh could score just 48 runs, losing two wickets in the last five overs.
It was however a poor return considering the fact that at that time Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudullah was in the crease and both of them were well set.
While Tamim was expected to make up his slow start at the death by playing some big shots, he was trapped run-out by running between the wickets casually. Mahmudullah in contrast was undone by an express delivery of Haris Rauf.
Their dismissal in short space effectively routed Bangladesh’s way to put up a reasonable total on the board.
“We didn’t finish off well, which was really disappointing as we are in a position to use the last powerplay well,” Mahmudullh remarked.
He however said that he is not sure what Bangladesh’s approaches will be in the last game on Monday that turned out to be dead-rubber.
“Not sure yet how we’ll go for the last game, maybe we’ll try to play some reserves, but we need to come hard at them and win the game,” he concluded.