Zunaed eyes another 85
Bangladesh batsman Zunaed Siddiqui said that his match-winning knock against New Zealand two years ago always motivates him.
The left-hander hit 85 in only his second one-dayer at home, paving the way for the Tigers to a seven-wicket win exactly two years ago. Mohammad Ashraful, who is out of the team this time for poor form, smashed an unbeaten 60 after Mashrafe Bin Mortaza's four-wicket haul in Bangladesh's maiden one-day victory against the Kiwis.
"I often watch the video of that match because it inspires me to play good cricket. I watched it last night also. I am looking forward to continue my good form in the coming series," said a confident Zunaed while talking to the reporters at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.
"It would be fantastic if I can play another innings like that in the five-match one-day series," he added.
The young batsman, originally groomed as an opener, has been going through a purple patch batting at number three. In the last ten ODI innings, he made his maiden hundred against Ireland and scored two half-centuries (97 against Pakistan and 51 against England) and also hit a hundred and two fifties in his last ten Test innings to maintain some sort of consistency.
It would not be a surprise to see him as an opener again in the series after southpaw Tamim Iqbal was ruled out from the series due to a surgery on his left wrist, but Zunaed is hardly concerned with his batting position.
"I'm enjoying my batting as a one-down batsman. But I'm ready to bat at any position according to my team's demand. My main concern is to contribute something and I am very confident ahead of the series," he said.
Zunaed believes that the Tigers have a very good chance in the five-match one-day series. The first match will take place at Mirpur on October 5.
"We are going to play all the matches at Mirpur and I think the first match would be very important for us. We are familiar with the wicket and we have trained hard this time, so we have a good chance," hoped Zunaed.
Responding to a question, the left-hander also said that they are not worried with the pace attack of the New Zealand side.
"Recently we played a very good bowling attack like England and it was in their condition, so we are not scared of any attack.
"We are ready to take any challenge. I think our team is now well tuned to play good cricket," Zunaed opined.
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