CF Correspondent

Bangladesh eyes to make a comeback to keep the three-match ODI’s series alive against Sri Lanka after losing the opener as they take on the host at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

The match starts at 3 PM (BST) and a loss in the second game will make sure the tourist lose another opportunity to earn their maiden series win against Sri Lanka at their own back yard.

Tigers will be keen to take the advantage as Sri Lanka will began their journey without Lasith Malinga, who played a pivotal role in the first ODI, , to demolish Bangladesh by clinching a 91-run victory to celebrate the farewell game of his ODI’s career.

‘’No one likes to lose. We did not like it either but we have chance. We have two matches left.  We want to win the next match, no matter what. That’ll bring a balance in the series. If we did not have that ability I would not give this answer. I believe we have that ability. The way played yesterday, we could definitely play better than that. I think our boys also have the same belief. I hope we can come back,’’ Bangladesh head coach Khaled Mahmud told reporters ahead of the second game.

I think we played badly in both sections. We started badly while batting and the same case while we were bowling. If we give more attention… at a point it seemed like they would score 370-380 but the positive thing is, we bowled well in death overs after a long time. In last ten overs we bowled with below 7.00 economy rate and we picked wicket too. and I think we batted badly. We lost too many wickets. we can win, if we can fix these problems and use the wickets properly.

‘’I have admit, we were in trouble when Malinga knocked Tamim and Shoumya out. Still we could return in the match, if we could take more responsibility and did not lose wickets in the beginning. We were in the match… if you see we needed 155 runs in 20 overs. If Sabbir and Mushfiq could make their partnership bigger, it could be closer one.  But it’s all right, we are learning from our mistakes. Maybe we won’t repeat these mistakes in the next match,’’ he said.

And Bangladesh indeed need this sort of leeway apart from the luck. Tamim Iqbal, the 14th ODI captain of Bangladesh had ordinary debut while he continued his poor batting form even though he had little to do against that Malinga-special.

But he knows he needs to lead from the front as captain and one of the senior players in the side, specially when Shakib Al Hasan and Mashrafe Bin Mortaza were absent in the series.

While Bangladesh were wayward in bowling and looked out-of-sort and jaded in fielding, Mahmud said he is not happy with the performance of the team when it comes to judge them as a fielding unit.

Mahmudullah claimed him fit and opted to play the series but his effort on the ground cost Bangladesh the match dearly. He shelled the catch of Kusal Mendis and then played a rash shot to throw his wicket when Bangladesh were in tricky position.

‘’Fielding is not something you go for technique. You can’t change the techniques while fielding. You have to see their attitude in the ground and involvement. If they can relate more, that would be better. Sometimes we become shattered when opponents dominate. We have to come out of that situation and play better. We had lots of missed fielding yesterday. I believe, the way they fielded, we are definitely a better fielding side. Our back is in the wall but I believe we can come back from here,’’ said Mahmud.