Our Team Went Into Defensive Mode Against Sri Lanka: Mashrafe Bin Mortaza

Apr 2, 2017 at 1:22 PM

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Our Team Went Into Defensive Mode Against Sri Lanka: Mashrafe Bin Mortaza

Limited-overs skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza suggested his team applied defensive approach as they crumbled under pressure in the third and final One-day International match in Colombo which visitors eventually lost by 70 runs as the series was tied at 1-1.

However, the Jessore-born fast bowler Mortaza added the unit was competitive on Lankan shores.

“We went into defensive mode as soon as we had one or two bad overs. It created more problems. It is a good thing that we were consistent in Sri Lanka. Everyone understood their role. I hope the team will remain on their toes in Ireland,” Mortaza was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.com.

Mortaza stated the bowlers didn’t pick early breakthroughs which put us under pressure by going defensive as a bowling unit after giving 76 runs in their first ten overs against Sri Lanka on Saturday (April 1).

The 33-year-old right-arm fast bowler Mortaza reiterated that they should’ve stick to their basics and continue with the attacking display as they did in the first two 50-over games of the series.

“We should have stuck to our attacking mode like we did in the last two games. I think we moved away from that plan,” Mortaza said.

Mortaza stated they lost the plot after bowling few bad overs while further adding they didn’t feel nervous during the game.

“I don’t think it was nervousness [in the first ten overs] but we did use up five bowlers during that period,” Mashrafe added.

Mortaza has admitted that they didn’t bowl according to their plan as they did in first two ODIs while terming it as the lack of ‘discipline’.

“We weren’t as disciplined as we were in the first two games. I think we tried a few more things because we weren’t getting what we wanted early on. We didn’t judge the wicket properly in regards to our areas,” Mortaza revealed.

It’s was rookie off-spinner Mehedi Hasan who broke the partnership between Sri Lankan skipper Upul Tharanga and Danushka Gunathilaka in the 11th over of hosts’ innings.

“We made a comeback as a bowling group in this game, having done poorly in the first ten overs. It is a lesson for us, how to turn around from a bad start,” Mortaza stated.

While chasing down the target of 281, Bangladesh were in all sorts of bother when they lost three wickets in 3.3 overs before all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan 54 off 62 balls and offie Mehedi Hasan (51 off 71 balls) also scored his maiden fifty.

“They perhaps made 20 runs more, but if you follow Miraz’s batting you could see clearly that the wicket didn’t have anything,” Mortaza further said.

However, the Tigers were bundled out for 210 in 44.3 overs to see the series levelled at 1-1.

Interestingly, it was also the first time when Bangladesh played with the same Playing XI after winning the game before the second game was washed out.

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