DHAKA, Feb 25, 2020 (BSS)—Zimbabwe stand-in captain Craig Ervine lambasted his batsmen for not scoring enough runs on good batting track, that on his own thought led their humiliating innings and 106-run defeat to Bangladesh in the one-off Test at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
Zimbabwe was bowled out for 265 in first innings despite Ervine’s excellent 107. They fared badly in the second innings too, being dismissed for 189 before Bangladesh declared their only innings on 560-6.
“Batting first, we should have got at least 400. The wicket was good enough to post a score like that. Getting bowled out for 265 put us in the backfoot, and allowed Bangladesh to go past us,” Ervine said on Tuesday after losing the Test.
“We could have also batted better in the second innings. The wicket wasn’t really that bad. I thought our bowlers worked hard to get those six wickets. Obviously didn’t hit the right areas enough, but I just thought that our batting let us down.”
Ervine also started well in second innings too and at one phase it seemed he would give Bangladesh a run for their money. But as soon as he was trapped run out for 43, Zimbabwe innings fell like pack of cards.
“It was very disappointing. At the time it seemed like myself and Raza were going well. We got some momentum on our side, and then we basically gave it back to Bangladesh. I have always wanted to get back-to-back hundreds in a game, and I thought today was the perfect opportunity,” he remarked.
The wrecker-in-chief of Zimbabwe innings was Bangladesh’s off-spinner Nayeem Hasan who ended with his career-best match figure 9-152. Taijul Islam also bowled well with him in tandem in second innings, claiming 4-78.
Ervine had no reservation to heap a shower of praise on them.
“Nayeem bowled well. He was consistent, got a bit of drift and dip. He always asked questions, and it was the same with Taijul. They were not giving away easy runs,” he said.
“It was a combination of application and execution. The guys obviously tried to go over the top, and didn’t execute the plans properly. In the past it has been difficult to bat last in Dhaka. Possibly guys played few too many shots because of the turn. But the ball was wet because of the drizzle.”
He informed that the side missed their regular captain Sean Williams who opted out the Test match due to be with his ailing wife.
“Sean Williams is a big part of our team. He contributes with the bat, ball and field. We missed him hugely,” he said.
“We have an inexperienced bowling line-up. Charlton Tshuma was playing his first game. Victor was playing his third Test match. Ainsley played a handful of games. Donald Tiripano is the experienced one. We just didn’t hit the right areas for long enough. Without doing that, you can’t build any pressure,” Ervine concluded.