Pothas and Ferguson praise Mustafiz after first ODI wash out
Mustafizur Rahman, Cricfrenzy
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Bangladesh coach Nic Pothas and New Zealand stand-in captain Lockie Ferguson both praised pacer Mustafizur Rahman after the first ODI being washed out.
Incessant rain washed out the first one-day international between Bangladesh and New Zealand in Dhaka on Thursday. Match officials declared the game abandoned after rain halted the New Zealand innings at 136-5 in 33.4 overs.
‘The Fizz’ used to bowl sparingly at the beginning of the innings as the left-handed pacer has proved his effectiveness with the old ball as well.
But in recent times he lost his touch. However, this left-handed pacer showed his old rhythm against India in the death over in the recent Asia Cup.
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Pothas expressed his admiration for Mustafiz's bowling in the death overs. The interim head coach of Bangladesh thinks that even if the left-handed pacer is woken up at three in the morning to bowl, he will do well in the death.
"If you wake up Mustafiz at three in the morning, tell him to bowl in the death over, still he will bowl well,” Pothas said in the post-match presentation.
Today, Mustafiz dismissed Finn Allen for nine and Chad Bowes for one in successive overs after play resumed and also trapping Henry Nicholls leg-before for 44. Mustafizur finished with 3-27 in 7 overs.
The visitor’s captain also applauded Mustafiz on Mirpur’s pitch.
“I thought Mustafiz bowled really nicely, hit the seam with the new ball. And obviously as the ball gets a bit older, it gets a bit slower. The fielders tend to push out as well. Maybe makes it look a bit slower, but it's probably pretty hard for me to make that assessment without having batted on it or bowled. But look, plenty of learnings to take from today,” said Kiwi skipper Ferguson.
The second and third ODIs will be played at the same ground on September 23 and 26.
