Tamim-Hridoy blame poor batting display for first ODI defeat against Afghans
Mushfiqur Rahim bowled by Rashid Khan (not in picture), Cricfrenzy
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Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal blamed their batting collapse, not the weather for their lost against visitor Afghanistan in a rain-shortened three match ODI series opener on Wednesday.
Afghanistan beat Bangladesh by 17 runs on DLS method in Chittagong as rain prevented further play at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium after Afghanistan reached 83-2 in 21.4 overs, chasing a target of 164 runs in 43 overs.
The hosts were 84-3 in 15.1 overs when rain halted the game for the first time, with the top three batsmen -- Tamim (13), Litton Das (26), and Najmul Hossain (12) -- all dismissed.
Azmatullah Omarzai removed Shakib al Hasan for 15 on resumption, and joining the attack, Rashid Khan took two quick wickets to derail the home side. Rashid bowled Mushfiqur Rahim between the legs for one and dismissed Afif Hossain leg-before for four three overs later.
Player of the match Fazalhaq Farooqi trapped Mehidy Hasan Miraz leg-before for five before rain delayed play again, with Bangladesh struggling at 144-7 off 34.3 overs.
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“I thought weather and other things, we don't need to blame such things, it's a part and parcel of the game. We had a good start but we lost back-to-back wickets. It was a loose shot from me. When you put on 160-odd, it is not enough on any day, the wicket was a bit tricky and If we put up 250-260, it would have been good,” said Tamim in the presentation.
Rookie batter Towhid Hridoy top-scored with 51 for Bangladesh, who struggled for momentum ever since Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi won the toss and elected to bowl first.
Hridoy completed his third fifty in seven ODIs after play restarted but then fell to Farooqi in the same over.
However, according to the right handed batter the wicket was not good for batting but it was not too difficult either.
“I didn't think so [difficult wicket]. The wicket was not that difficult. But the ball was getting low in the beginning and it was a problem. Bounce was two types. I think if we had done better, the game could have been different. All in all, our batting was not good today,” said Hridoy in the post-match press conference.
Afghanistan, who lost their previous two ODI series in Bangladesh, can take an unassailable lead in the three-match series at the same venue on Saturday.
