Collective effort helped Tigers win, believes Miraz
Off-spinner Mehedi Hasan Miraz's four wickets in the middle were pivotal in restricting Sri Lanka to 224 which eventually helped Bangladesh beat the visitors convincingly by 33 runs in the first ODI at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today.
Despite being the crucial factor in dismantling the Lankan batting, Miraz conceded that it was rather a collective effort that helped the Tigers win their first match since January this year.
"Everyone played well and that's why we won. Had only one or two players played well then we would not have won the game. It was everyone's contribution that helped us win," said Miraz after the game.
Before today's victory, the Tigers had been in an abysmal run of form, with their last victory coming against West Indies at home in an ODI in January this year. Since then, Bangladesh played four Tests (two against West Indies at home and two away to Sri Lanka), three ODIs and three T20Is against New Zealand and have lost all the matches except the one drawn Test against Sri Lanka in Pallekele last month.
However, Bangladesh played as a unit today to end their poor run and took a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series. Skipper Tamim Iqbal laid the foundation with a fifty at the top before a 109-run fifth-wicket stand between Mushfiqur Rahim (84 off 87) and Mahmudullah Riyad (54 off 76) revived the innings after Bangladesh lost two wickets in back to back deliveries and were left reeling at 99 for four after 23 overs.
Another quick-fire unbeaten 27-run stand between Afif Hossain and Mohammad Saifuddin propelled the Tigers to a commendable 257 for six.
"Tamim bhai gave a good start then Mushfiqur bhai batted exceptionally. We had lost two quick wickets and after that, Mushfiqur bhai and Riyad bhai helped us with an important partnership. Afif [and Saifuddin] strung together a small but crucial partnership at the end," Miraz acknowledged the concerted efforts of the batters.
Following an admirable batting display, it was Miraz who gave Bangladesh crucial breakthroughs in the middle after Sri Lanka got off to a bright start. The current number 5 bowler in ODIs finished with four for 30 in 10 overs, featuring two maidens.
"We may have leaked a few runs at one end at the beginning but I tried to contain runs from the other end. After that, Mustafizur [Rahman], Saifuddin and I bowled well in the middle," Miraz added.
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