Bangladesh captain Mominul Haque said playing a Test match after a long break maybe a cause of lackluster bowling performance on the final day of their first match of the two-Test series against the West Indies.
The visitors scripted an incredible record by successfully chasing 395 runs in the fourth innings, the highest ever in Asia, at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium Sunday.
Bangladesh bowlers failed to exploit the slow, low pitch as they showed lack of discipline and the visiting batsmen showed rigidity and skill to accomplish the herculean task.
“There is no particular reason. We are playing Tests after a while, that maybe the reason,” said Mominul through a video message answering the question of the reasons behind their indiscipline bowling on the fifth day.
Some of the Windies players, including their regular captain Jason Holder, withdrew from the series citing Covid-19 concerns and it was expected the dilapidated side, who lost their last series here 2-0 meekly, would be easily beaten.
The Caribbean side also failed to win at ZACS on two previous occasions; drawing one and losing the other.
“Cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties. Incredible things happen here. I never thought we could lose. We dominated the first four days. I think our bowlers could not bowl in the right spots. We lost on the final day,” said Mominul.
The @windiescricket's historic three-wicket win in numbers.https://t.co/pSU3alVcnP
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) February 7, 2021
The win seemed even more incredible as it was led by debutant Kyle Mayers, who scored a record 210 not out in the fourth innings, and fellow debutant Nkrumah Bonner featured as the second fiddle to form the match-changing 216-run fourth-wicket stand.
Mominul also acknowledged the super-human effort of the duo and said their batting changed the complexion of the game.
“They batted really well. Mayers was amazing. It was not easy at all. They chased around 400 and he scored over 200. Outstanding,” said the Bangladesh skipper.
Mominul is also of the opinion that had they held onto the opportunities provided by the batsmen the fate of the game could have been changed.
Bangladesh did not take reviews on a couple of occasions but the replays showed had they went for them, the batters would be dismissed much earlier.
“There were enough chances on the wicket. We could not grab them. Both the batsmen gave opportunities. Had we utilized them things could have been different. It was very tough to remove them once they got set,” said the diminutive skipper.
However, the captain did not point out any individual as the reasons behind the defeat.
The West Indies Sunday accomplished the highest ever chase in the fourth innings of a Test match in Asia to beat Bangladesh by three wickets at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium to lead the two-Test series by 1-0.https://t.co/r7ZkfNYyPC
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) February 7, 2021
“When a team lose, you cannot blame a certain individual. When a team lose everyone loses, when a team win everyone wins. We all lost together,” rued Mominul.
Bangladesh missed the services of Shakib al Hasan as the ace all-rounder left the field on the second evening while bowling in the first innings and did not take any part in the remainder of the match.
Shakib, who scored 68 in his return match after serving a one-year ban imposed by ICC for failing to report corrupt approaches, received a new injury on the groin region of his left thigh.
The southpaw injured his same thigh during the recent ODI series against the Windies and recovered before the Chittagong five-dayer.
“The presence of Shakib bhai could have made our bowling much tidier. As a senior he would guide bowlers and batters. We missed him especially in bowling. It was my first opportunity as a captain to play with him.”
But the disappointed captain said they will make plans to return strongly in Dhaka for the second Test beginning Thursday at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
