The defeat to Sri Lanka will probably hurt the Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe bin Mortaza most as the veteran fast bowler could only stand and watch how his charges dropped the match. As many as four catches went down as Sri Lanka made the Tigers pay heavily at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) yesterday.
The scenario could have been completely different given Anamul Haque held on to the sitter of Lahiru Thirimanne at first slip in the first over with the islanders on zero. The frustration was probably at the peak when Mashrafe continued to move the ball in the air, getting and edge only to see it fly between the wicketkeeper and Anamul.
Later, Mominul Haque and Taskin Ahmed joined the list as Kumar Sangakkara and TM Dilshan sent the ball to literally all corners of the ground to post a mammoth 332/1 in 50 overs.
Mashrafe rued the dropped chances and also emphasised on their performance saying they were not able to build partnerships during the match like they did against Afghanistan. He said the bowlers were not able to bowl according to their merit and the poor fielding also did not help.
“Definitely drop catches costs us but it happens in cricket at the same time I think as a bowling group we were not been up to the mark today (yesterday). We need to work it out and hopefully in the next games we will come up good,” said a demoralised Mashrafe before adding, “Chasing over 330 was always going to be difficult.”
“Prior to that with the ball and in the field we were not up to the mark. However, we still have three matches left and hope do something well in the upcoming game,” he said.
Bangladesh team only practiced a day before their game at the MCG, but Mashrafe was not ready to make it an excuse. “When we first reached here we practiced the ground fielding so whatever I say will be an excuse and I think it will be better if we accept that we did not play up to the mark in that department.
“However, things would have been different if we could have restricted them under 270-280. If Shakib and Mushfiq were not dismissed when they were, we could have gone further.”
