Tamim not fully satisfied despite series win

Bangladesh one-day international captain Tamim Iqbal thought his team could have done better in the two matches played in the ongoing ODI series against hosts Zimbabwe albeit winning the series with a game to spare.

Bangladesh on Sunday added another 10 points to the ICC Men’s World Cup Super League tally and secured the three-match series victory by winning the second ODI of the series by three wickets.

The victory has come at the back of Shakib al Hasan’s unbeaten 96-run knock along with Mohammad Saifuddin’s 28 amid a batting debacle. Chasing 241, Bangladesh were 173 for seven in 38.3 overs when Shakib found Saifuddin to partner for an unbeaten 69-run match winning stand for the eighth wicket.

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The scenario was similar in the first ODI of the series too. Bangladesh after early loss of wickets had recovered with century of opener Liton Das and contributions from late order batsmen Afif Hossain and Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Later a sharp bowling attack ensured the tourists start the series with a resounding 155-run victory.

“We definitely had plans as a team [when we travelled to Zimbabwe]. We could have better especially as a batting unit. I thought there have been too many soft dismissals today [Sunday] but the way Shakib and Saifuddin batted was really nice to see,” said Tamim in the post match presentation at Harare Sports Club.

Losing the toss Bangladesh were sent to bowl first matching to Tamim’s intention. According to the captain, Bangladesh would have decided to bowl first had they won the toss. The touring size restricted Zimbabwe to 240 runs at the end of 50 overs and removed nine wickets. Young left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam registered his best figure in the format with four wickets conceding 46 runs in 10 overs.

Also Read: Brilliant Shakib leads Bangladesh to series win in Zimbabwe

Tamim in praise of the bowling unit said, “I think restricting them [Zimbabwe] to 240 [runs] was a decent job done by the bowlers. I thought the wicket was playing better than the first game if you see the first innings. I thought the bowlers have bowled well and I was quite happy chasing 240.”

Bangladesh in the last game of the series will face Zimbabwe on Tuesday at the same venue and look for the final 10 points of the series in the Super League and a clean sheet against the African nation.