Captain Mushfiqur Rahim reserved special mention for Rubel Hossain after the paceman recorded the joint-best bowling figures for a Bangladeshi bowler in One-Day Internationals to inspire his team to a 43-run win in the first ODI against New Zealand.
Rubel scalped 6-26 in 5.5 overs, including a hat-trick, as Bangladesh surged to a 1-0 lead in the three-match series and Mushfiq was all praise for the 23-year old pace bowler at the post-match press conference at Mirpur on Tuesday.
‘Rubel deserves it more than anyone else. He has been one of our most consistent pace bowlers in the last three months. I won’t call it [the hat-trick] miraculous since he has been working extremely hard,’ said Mushfiq.
‘He has been unlucky on a few occasions but he is a much improved bowler now. I didn’t have to tell him anything since he was the one who bowled in the right areas. He uses his brain more.
‘Rubel is bowling outstandingly well and hopefully he can continue it in the future. I have all the confidence in him,’ said the skipper.
The last time Bangladesh met New Zealand at home, the Tigers romped to a 4-0 series win. The chief architect of that series victory, all-rounder Sakib al Hasan,
missed the opening ODI on Tuesday as he has contracted dengue fever.
Despite the all-rounder’s absence, Bangladesh still went on to register their fifth consecutive victory against the Kiwis at home in ODIs. Mushfiq, however, said that the Tigers are better off having him in the side rather than the other way round.
Even though Sakib has not been completely ruled out of the one-day series, he still remains highly doubtful.
‘Sakib is obviously a big loss. He bowled and batted extremely well the last time. I can’t say whether he will play any part. I hope he recovers quickly,’ said Mushfiq.
The 25-year-old skipper went on to say that the Tigers will now look to seal the series in the second ODI at Mirpur on Thursday.
‘We will target match by match. We will try to win the series before the third one-day international.’
SCORECARD
Bangladesh innings
Tamim lbw b Southee 5
Anamul c N. McCullum b
Southee 13
Mominul run out 0
Mushfiq c B McCullum b Neesham 90
Naeem c B McCullum b
Southee 84
Nasir b Neesham 1
Mahmudullah c Taylor b
Neesham 29
Sohag c B McCullum b
Anderson 6
Mashrafee c N McCullum b Neesham 6
Razzak c B McCullum b
Anderson 12
Rubel not out 3
Extras (lb2, w13, nb1) 16
Total (all out, 49.5 overs) 265
Fall of wickets: 1-13 (Tamim), 2-17 (Mominul), 3-25 (Anamul), 4-179 (Mushfiq), 5-181 (Nasir), 6-232 (Naeem), 7-241 (Mahmudullah), 8-249 (Sohag), 9-250 (Mashrafe), 10-265 (Razzak).
Bowling
Southee 10 2 34 3
McClenaghan 8 0 51 0
Neesham 9 0 42 4
Anderson 8.5 1 46 2
N McCullum 4 0 28 0
Devcich 5 0 32 0
Williamson 4 0 20 0
Elliot 1 0 10 0
New Zealand innings
Rutherford b Gazi 1
Devcich b Mahmudullah 22
Elliot c Mashrafee b Rubel 71
R. Taylor c Rahim b Rubel 8
Anderson b Rubel 46
B McCullum c Sub (Shamsur) b Rubel 0
Neesham b Rahim b Rubel 0
N McCullum c Mashrafee b
Rubel 10
Southee c Sub ( Shamsur) b Razzak 0
McClenaghan not out 1
K Williamson absent hurt
Extras (lb2, wb 1) 3
Total (all out, 29.5 overs) 162
Fall of wickets: 1-9 (Rutherford), 2-43 (Devcich), 3-60 (Taylor) 4-121(Anderson) 5-121 (B. McCullum), 6-121 (Neesham), 7-143 (N. McCullum), 8-149 (Southee) 9-162 (Elliot)
Bowling
Mashrafee 6 1 20 0
Sohag 6 0 36 1
Razzak 7 1 45 1
Mahmudullah 4 0 27 1
Rubel 5.5 0 26 6
Nasir 1 0 6 0
Result: Bangladesh win by 43 runs in D/L method
Man of the Match: Rubel Hossain
Series: Bangladesh 1-0
Toss New Zealand
-With New Age input