Never been involved in a game where players are going out without knowing the target: Russell Domingo

Russell Domingo, the Bangladesh head coach, sounded agitated after the confusion regarding the DLS target during the second T20I against New Zealand at McLean Park in Napier. The game was halted by rain due to which the target had to be revised. Domingo was unhappy for the fact that there wasn’t any clarification on the same when the Tigers went out to bat.

To start with the visitors were set a target of 148 in 16 overs, but after 1.3 overs, the target was revised to 170 in 16 overs. Yet another time, the target was altered, this time to 171 off 16 overs. The visitors eventually lost the game by 28 runs (DLS Method) and also fell 0-2 down in the series.

It was very frustrating for us: Russell Domingo

“I have never been involved in a game where players going out don’t know what the target is or don’t know what the Duckworth Lewis (DLS) target is, or later on nobody has the idea of how many runs do we need after five overs, after six overs and so on,” Domingo was quoted as saying in Cricbuzz.

“I don’t think the game should have started until it was finalised and there was a clear indication of what we require and what we need at certain stages, so I don’t think that was good enough this evening,” he stated.

It has been learned that the Bangladesh players were frustrated after the constant change in targets. In the meantime, the match officials have apologised for the confusion. Domingo also wasn’t happy after the play was allowed to resume despite a bit of drizzle at the venue.

“They (match officials) were waiting for it (target) and I think I was explained that normally you get it one or two balls into the game. But we hadn’t received it and were waiting for it and then it got delayed further… Look no excuses but it was very frustrating for us,” Domingo added.

After being put in to bat first, the Black Caps scored 173 runs in 17.5 overs on the back of an unbeaten 31-ball 58 from Glenn Phillips. In the run-chase, Soumya Sarkar scored 51 off 27, but his knock went in vain.

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