‘We lost the game in Powerplay’
Bangladesh captain Litton Das said that lacklustre batting in the Powerplay cost his side their Group B Asia Cup match against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
The Tigers, put into bat, were stuttering at 0-2 two overs into their innings. Pacers Nuwan Thushara and Dushmantha Chameera, who bowled the first and second over respectively, bowled two maiden wicket overs up front, removing openers Tanzid Tamim and Parvez Hossain Emon for ducks.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Bangladesh then lost the wicket of Tawhid Hridoy (eight off nine balls) to end the Powerplay on 30-3. The Tigers' innings never truly recovered from this early setback.
An unbroken 86-run stand off 61 balls for the sixth wicket between Shamim Hossain (42 off 31 balls) and Jaker Ali (41 off 31 balls) dragged the total to 139-5, but that proved to be woefully short with Sri Lanka cruising to the target with 32 deliveries in hand and six wickets to spare.
"I thought we lost the game in Powerplay," Litton, who made 28 off 26 balls, said after the game.
"Wicket was pretty good to bat on. 170-180 would've been a different game," he added.
The Bangladesh skipper also was not happy with their bowling and fielding efforts, saying, "On a good wicket if you score 140, you have to bowl and field well. We didn't do that."
The sizable defeat puts the Tigers in a tricky position in Group B as their qualification scenario would be dictated by the results of other games.
Their third and final group-stage match will be against Afghanistan on Tuesday at the same venue, a match he rightfully termed "Do or die".
"Do or die [against Afghanistan]. Thanks to all our supporters. Wish they would come again and watch our game."
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