'Our decisions were wrong'

Top-order batsman Mominul Haque lamented the 'wrong decisions' taken by Bangladesh's batsmen on the first day of the second Test in Mirpur yesterday. While the hosts began well and managed to put up two partnerships, they lost their wickets while attempting to play shots that weren't required.

Tamim Iqbal for instance, flayed at a full delivery outside and became Dale Steyn's 400th victim. Litton Das, Mominul and Mahmudullah Riyad got out while playing similarly unnecessary strokes.

In fact, during the post-day press conference yesterday, Steyn said that it was the mistakes made by the Bangladeshi batsmen that played a part for the visitors to gain advantage on Day One.

On his own rash shot, an attempted cut to a delivery that was too close to his body, Mominul said, "I took a wrong decision on that ball. That's why I got out. It was also a wrong decision in the last game. I hope to overcome it quickly. I don't think I am losing concentration.

"The cut is one of my scoring shots, so I am playing those shots from which I get runs. Sometimes your best shot doesn't work for you. When it doesn't happen for you, even the half chances go to hand. I have to be more careful next time," explained Mominul.

"Mine and Litton's weren't really great wickets. Imrul got out to a good ball. I think some of us gifted them wickets but Shakib [Al Hasan] bhai's dismissal was a good ball.

"They hardly give you balls off which you can score runs. They are always bowling stump-to-stump. They have three of the best fast bowlers in the world. I had a hard time scoring runs. Their spinners bowled well as well," he added.

The left-hander reckoned that the hosts had handed the advantage to South Africa and that a score of 350 to 400 would have been par on this track.

"We will try to get to 300, which I think will be a fighting score. I think 300 is possible if Nasir [Hossain] bats well. Our tail can defend the ball. Then if we can bowl in the right areas… anything can happen," hoped Mominul.

"The wicket will turn from the second and third days. It will help our spinners," he added.

Steyn on the other hand credited his bowlers for not letting Bangladesh's batsmen get off the hook and bowl at a good economy rate.

"The game just doesn't get away from you. You just manage to contain and hold them. You have got to wait and see who is more patient. This morning Tamim just wasn't patient enough and threw his bat at it and kind of started it for us… it was a bad shot, but I will take it.

"And then one or two little sneaky wickets here and there. It's just a patience game really. I think Bangladesh have gotten better over the years, but over all we were probably the more patient side at the end of the day," said Steyn.