Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz said his team’s batting shortcomings cost them the match after they were bowled out for 116 while chasing 142 against Zimbabwe in the opening ODI of the three-match series at Harare Sports Club on Monday.
The 25-run loss also saw Bangladesh register their lowest failed chase in an ODI where the full quota of 50 overs was available, while Zimbabwe went on to successfully defend the fourth-lowest total in ODI history.
“I am quite disappointed with our batting unit,” Miraz said at the post-match presentation.
“We needed a partnership in the first 10 overs, but we could not manage that. We have to take responsibility for it. A target of 142 is not easy in these conditions, but if we had built an early stand, it would have been more manageable,” he added.
Even in defeat, Nahid Rana stood out with a sensational career-best 6-21, tearing through the Zimbabwe batting order and grabbing the spotlight.
Miraz praised the young pacer but also pointed out that Bangladesh allowed Zimbabwe’s lower order to rebuild.
“We bowled well, especially Nahid Rana. Six wickets is a great effort,” he said. “But the 63-run partnership for the ninth wicket hurt us. Those runs were important.”
Rana’s figures of 6-21 became the best ODI bowling return by a Bangladeshi bowler, going past Mashrafe Bin Mortaza’s 6-26 against Kenya in 2006.
Miraz added that Bangladesh’s fast-bowling unit is showing steady progress.
“The platform our pacers have created over the last few series has been very encouraging. If we keep building on this, it will benefit the team,” he said.
