'I think we failed to bowl in good areas' - Nurul Hasan on Bangladesh's defeat against Zimbabwe

After his team was defeated by Zimbabwe by 17 runs in the first T20I on July 30, Bangladesh captain Nurul Hasan chose not to provide any explanations and instead was clear that the team needs to improve and up their game going forward. The hosts ended their innings at 205/3 after electing to bat first and went on to defend their score.

Sikandar Raza led Zimbabwe above the 200-run threshold with an unbeaten 26-ball 65 that included seven fours and four sixes. The team led by Craig Ervine scored 106 runs in the final 46 balls. Runs were given by Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, and Shoriful Islam at a rate of over 10. Visiting skipper Nurul acknowledged that Bangladeshi bowlers misfired in the crucial innings-ending overs.

“It was a good match. I think we failed to bowl in good areas in the last five to six overs and they batted really well. There are the areas (bowling in the last five to six overs) that we need to improve before the next game. I don’t want to show any excuses whether it is batting, bowling or fielding it is all about us and we have to improve. Everyone tried their level best and it was a 50-50 game,” Nurul Hasan told the media post the first T20I.

We have a lot to improve as far as bowling in the last five to six overs are concerned: Nurul Hasan

Nurul felt that Bangladesh conceded 10-15 additional runs while bowling, and had they played properly, the visitors might have come out on top. In their last 14 games in the 20-over format, Bangladesh has lost 13 of their fixtures. Since former batting champion Dave Houghton started his second tenure as national coach in June, Zimbabwe has won six matches in a row.

“When we came to the dressing room we were confident that we could chase down the total as the wicket was good, but as I said, we have a lot to improve as far as bowling in the last five to six overs are concerned. I feel if we had given 10 to 15 runs less, then it could have been a different game all together,” Nurul added.

The two teams will clash for the second T20I of the series at the same venue on Sunday, July 31. The hosts will be in good form as they’re backed with a win, while the visitors will look for redemption.