‘Very important to win the first game’
Bangladesh captain Litton Das was glad to begin the team's campaign in the Asia Cup with a comfortable seven-wicket win over Hong Kong in their Group B match in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.
Litton hit a match-winning 59 off 39 balls with the help of six fours and a six and formed a 95-run stand off 69 deliveries for the third wicket with Tawhid Hridoy (35 not out off 36) as the Tigers reached 144-3 in 17.4 overs.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. "Very important to win the first game. Last couple of series, we have played good cricket. But in Asia Cup, little bit of pressure comes automatically," a relieved Litton said after the match.
The right-hander came into the tournament with two half-centuries in the three-match home series against Netherlands and carried that momentum into the game against Hong Kong.
Litton, who was also named the player-of-the-match, gave credit to his players.
"We played well today. In the last few years, our pace bowling department has done very well, and all we were looking for was a leg spinner and Rishad [Hossain] has done very well."
Bangladesh's reply to Hong Kong's 143-7 wasn't too great with both openers inside the Powerplay.
Openers Parvez Hossain Emon (19 off 14) and Tanzid Tamim (14 off 18) were caught trying to play lofted shots.
Hridoy, too, could not really get going as Litton was the only Bangladesh batter to time his shots well.
"The wicket was a bit on the slow side so we had to play carefully in the middle overs, and make the most of the big ground with the singles and doubles."
Bangladesh's next match will be against Sri Lanka on Saturday at the same venue.
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