||CF Correspondent||

Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza said that the lack of partnership yet again sank them as they paid it off with a crushing defeat to loss the three-match ODI series with a match to go.

It was the same old story for Bangladesh whose batsmen kept up making errors after errors in their New Zealand tour. For the second time in the series, the batsman failed to apply them well, helping the hosts clinch the series effortlessly.

The bounce and height with which the New Zealand bowlers operated, was too much to handle for Bangladesh and they were shot out for a moderate 226 in 49.4 before Martin Guptill struck his successive century to help the side overhaul the target in just 36.1 overs. The opener who remained unbeaten on 117 in the first match, followed it with a sublime 88 ball-118.

What would hurt Bangladesh was that they knew what was coming for them—the bounce and height and they knew the recipe of what to do to counter that. “Patience’ that was all required to get through the initial torrid period but no one from the top order could take the onus to steer through the side.

Once again half of the batsmen from the batting order got back to the dressing room before they crossed 100 runs figure and the scenario was the same as the first ODI. Mohammad Mithun took the responsibility and this he got Sabbir Rahman in his support in lieu of Saifuddin who played second fiddle to Mithun in the first ODI.

Mithun showed the necessary patience to get him set in the crease even though he again showed the lack of capability to finish the things off of his own. Still, his 69 ball-57, featured with eight fours and one six was eye-catching if not it was enough to have a jailbreak.

But the important thing what was missing was a partnership, especially in the top of the order. Apart from the 75 runs partnership for the sixth wicket between Mithun and Sabbir there was not any significant partnership.

“It was a tough day. The morning weather was good for bowling,” Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Bin Mortza, who lost the toss also, said after the match.

“Despite losing wickets, Mushy (Mushfiqur Rahim) was set, but if we got a few partnerships up top, it could have been a different match,” he rued. “Mithun has kept scoring runs, that's a positive, but I think we have to score more heavily at the top.”