Losing wickets in the middle cost us: Shakib Al Hasan on Bangladesh's loss to New Zealand

Shakib Al Hasan top-scored for Bangladesh [PC: Twitter]

Match five of the T20I tri-nation series saw hosts New Zealand and Bangladesh square off, with the visitors eyeing a spot in the final. Asked to chase down a mammoth 209 runs, it was skipper Shakib Al Hasan who kept his side in the hunt.

Other batters failed to make any impact, with a few players getting starts including Litton Das and Soumya Sarkar. Shakib scored a gutsy 44-ball 70 while his side was reduced from 90 for 2 to 120 for 5.

Speaking during the post-match ceremony, Shakib asserted that the Bangla Tigers were always behind, chasing a target of over 200. The Test and T20I skipper pin-pointed flurry of wickets in the middle cost his side the match.

"We kept on losing wickets in the middle and that cost us the game. If you look at our last three games, it has been the same pattern. After 10 overs, we have been losing wickets consistently. 

We lose wickets every two overs and that is not helping us in getting the momentum and we are left forcing to build innings," 

Talking about preparations for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2022, the all-rounder revealed that Bangladesh are nearing their final playing XI. 

Bangladesh face Pakistan in Match 6 of the T20 Tri-Nation series on Thursday. 

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