Bangladesh are optimistic that they can come from behind in the ongoing three-match ODI series after learning their lessons from their last three close defeats at the hands of the visitors, coach Shan Jurgensen said on Monday. Bangladesh were defeated by 13 runs in the first match despite creating an opportunity to take an early lead in the series by missing catches and batting irresponsibly.
Sri Lanka were reeling at 67-8 but came back to post 180 on the back of an awful display of fielding, which helped the visitors take the momentum.
Despite reaching 114-2, the Tigers lost their way and were bundled out for 167 in 39.2 overs, with two back-to-back run outs and a repeated failure to build partnerships leading to their downfall.
‘We just simply didn’t quite finish off the job,’ Jurgensen told reporters on Monday.
‘I think it’s frustrating and disappointing for everyone. At the same time I thought we competed well enough in all those games to win.’
‘A lot of cricket coming up, [and] we will learn a lot of things from these games.’
‘Unfortunately we had a mishap, but we’ve got two games to go and we can undo what we had done previously.’
Jurgensen also emphasised that last-minute hiccups prevented the Tigers from playing at full strength, as opener Tamim Iqbal and Mashrafee bin Murtaza were ruled out late due to injury. Mashrafee picked up a leg injury and Tamim aggravated his stiff neck, prompting management to rest them.
‘We had a couple of hiccups,’ said Jurgensen.
‘[Mashrafee] had to pull out with some swelling in the knee – we just felt it wasn’t worth the risk to push him – and Tamim’s neck is still bothering him a little bit.’
‘We thought it was best to rest them.’
The Australian asked his charges to focus on the process, which he believes will eventually pay off if properly executed, and he asked them to stay patient while battling with the pressure of expectations.
‘We have to bounce back. And everyone stay patient with us. For us, it’s about the process. If we can get that process right on the field, I am very sure the results will come,’ he said.
‘There is pressure of expectation, and handling that whole situation is important.’
‘As of now we need to win the next game and take it down to the decider,’ he added.
-With New Age input
