Top-order batsman Soumya Sarkar’s lack of big score continued as he faltered once again after making a good start in the opening one-day international against South Africa on Friday.
Soumya departed for 27 just when he looked to have settled down successfully with his four sweetly timed boundaries. But he opted to end his innings prematurely with a half-hearted drive at a time when Bangladesh needed his service most having been at the receiving end of a hat-trick.
Being the only batsman looking comfortable against hat-trick man Kagiso Rabada, he was expected to help the team into regrouping to resist the further damage.
The ball in which he was dismissed neither it was bowled in exceptionally good area nor any unplayable pace was attached to it. But still it reaped benefit for the visitors because of Soumya’s over-ambitious approach.
Soumya has brought a new wave of positivity and confidence in the Bangladesh cricket team but his repeated failure to convert his starts is becoming a concern for his team.
Soumya looks to dictate terms against any opposition irrespective of their background and it was no different against Proteas at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
Soumya, who made his debut in Dhaka against Zimbabwe in the fifth and final one-day international, last year, made his mark in the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand this year.
The 22-year old was a surprise choice in the team but his presence at top of the order made a vibrant change for the side as his fluent stroke-making not only gave them an early impetus but also sheer confidence.
The fearless attitude of the Tigers helped them reach their first ever quarter-finals in the competition. Soumya’s free-flowing batting style continued after the tournament and that played a big part in Bangladesh’s back-to-back series win against Asian neighbours Pakistan and India.
Till the Indian series the left-hander played 13 innings and in only one of those innings had a single figure.
But despite his impressive batting average of 40.58 and strike rate of 98.58, he scored just three fifties and a century.
His century against Pakistan was a treat to watch as he scored 127 runs off just 113 balls with 13 boundaries and six sixes and that not only confirmed a comfortable victory for his side but also proved his ability to play big innings.
However, his batting graph showed that he got out nine times between 20 to 40 runs out of his 14 innings. When in most cases, they did not do any damage for him, his good-looking small cameo proved to be not good enough against quality oppositions in difficult circumstances.
-With New Age input