Tamim blames butter fingers for defeat

Published at 08:41 pm March 23rd, 2021

Tourists Bangladesh on the day had the best of chances of picking their maiden win against New Zealand in New Zealand having first posted 271 before removing top three opponent batsmen early

Bangladesh ODI captain Tamim Iqbal blamed sluggish catching behind their defeat against New Zealand in the second ODI of the series at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Tuesday. Tourists Bangladesh on the day had the best of chances of picking their maiden win against New Zealand in New Zealand having first posted 271 before removing top three opponent batsmen early.

But Bangladesh started with the ill fate as wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim dropped Jimmy Neesham's straightforward edge off pacer Taskin Ahmed in the 36th over. In the next over over, off-spinner Sheikh Mahedi Hasan dropped a return catch from Tom Latham, who was on 58, as New Zealand needed 91 runs in 13.3 overs from this p

Jimmy Neesham ran out Tamim Iqbal by flicking the ball onto the stumps with his left foot AFP

With the defeat Bangladesh ensured yet another series loss.

“We never got this good opportunity against them (in New Zealand). We should have won the game. You do not get such chances away from home always. We scored 271 runs on a difficult wicket and then came to remove their three wickets within 50 runs. The game was in our control till we missed two opportunities (catches),” said Tamim to the media following the game on Tuesday.

“We should have won this game if those chances were not dropped. We should have won, there was no other option. It is disappointing to fail such opportunity,” the left-handed batsman added.

Bangladesh had a big lift in terms of performance comparing with their lackluster start in the series. The tourists in the first game at Dunedin bundled out for just 131. Tamim agreed on the improvement but the skipper felt that was not enough as their sole goal was winning.

“Yes it might be a big improvement but I personally believe we are not here (in New Zealand) to work on improvement. We travelled here to win and today there was a very good opportunity for us which we missed. It is a big improvement to score 271 runs in the second game where as we had 131 in the first, but I will say again we are not here to improve,” said Tamim.

Bangladesh on the day rode on half centuries off Tamim and middle-order batsman Mohammad Mithun. The side got to slow start after sent to bat first and losing Liton Das early for a duck. Opener Tamim came in counter with his 78 and emerge as the first Bangladesh batsman to score 50 half-centuries in the format. The captain’s effort was later complemented by Mithun with an unbeaten 73 off 57 balls involving six boundaries two over boundaries.

“He (Mithun) was brilliant today (Tuesday) but we are speaking of him because he played well. We also need to understand the difficult situation and position that he plays in. He got opportunity against Zimbabwe (at home last year) and played well in almost all matches. But then he could not be a part of the eleven against West Indies once Shakib (al Hasan) returned. But again he is playing in New Zealand. So it becomes tough for any batsman to play well in this way. I am happy for his performance and will hope that we will be able to cement his place in the eleven,” said Tamim.

SCORECARD

Bangladesh Run Ball

Tamim run out (Neesham) 78 108

Liton c Young b Henry 0 4

Soumya st Latham b Santner 32 46

Mushfiq c Nicholls b Santner 34 59

Mithun not out 73 57

M’dullah c Guptill b Jamieson 16 18

Mahedi c Nicholls b Boult 7 5

Saifuddin not out 7 4