• Home
  • Who Said What
  • Winning Is Hard Mehidy Hasan Blames Poor Partnerships For Odi Series Defeat Vs Sl

"Winning Is Hard..." Mehidy Hasan Blames Poor Partnerships For ODI Series Defeat Vs SL

Akshita Patel

Mehidy Hasan opens up on Bangladesh's series loss [Source: Getty]Mehidy Hasan opens up on Bangladesh's series loss [Source: Getty]

Bangladesh ODI captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz has admitted that the lack of strong partnerships was a major reason behind his team’s 99-run loss to Sri Lanka in the third and final ODI in Pallekele. With this defeat, Bangladesh lost the ODI series 2-1, having already lost the Test series.

In the first inning of the final ODI, Kusal Mendis and Charith Asalanka knitted a partnership of 124 runs to rebuild Sri Lanka’s innings after quick wickets. Mendis scored a hundred to propel the Lankans to a total of 285.

However, Bangladesh succumbed under pressure, failing to build a substantial partnership.

Mehidy Hasan Calls For Improvement In Batting After Another Series Loss

Chasing 286 to win, Bangladesh were all out for 186 in 39.4 overs. Skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz pointed out how Sri Lanka built a solid 124-run partnership between Kusal Mendis and Charith Asalanka after early trouble, something Bangladesh failed to do. 

"We are getting out soon after getting set. We can't keep the momentum for too long. We have to work on it. When I was batting with Hridoy today, we nearly grabbed the momentum. Then I got out. Momentum is required for a partnership. Strike rotation is important in a partnership. We have to play more low-risk cricket, not the high-risk cricket we are playing," Hasan told ESPN Cricinfo.

Towhid Hridoy was the top scorer for Bangladesh with 51, and although there were a couple of 40-run partnerships, no one managed to play a big innings. Mehidy also pointed to the problematic trend that Bangladesh failed to bat their full 50 overs in all three games, which hurt their chances.

"It is a concern for the team that we couldn't bat 50 overs [in any of the matches]," he said. "It would have helped us if we had batted properly. Our middle-order batters need to take more responsibility. I couldn't play a lot of balls, too. It would have been better [if I had done so]. We have a lot of room for improvement. We have a lot of cricket in front of us," he added.

Hasan Miraz Wants To Back Players' Strength

Despite the series loss, new skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz stated that he would back Bangladesh batters' attacking gameplay. He explained that forcing one to tweak their natural style could lead to more troubles.

"We could have hit more fours and picked up more singles. It is also a matter of emotional control. Everyone likes to play cricket in certain ways. Our top order likes to play with a bit of risk. They like to find boundaries. I can't stop them. It will make the situation difficult in the team. We are trying to back every player's strength," Hasan concluded.

Having already lost the Test series, Bangladesh also dropped the ODI series. To save their pride, the Tigers will now compete in the 3-game T20I series beginning from July 10.