Want to continue dominating: Mahmudullah
Before going to the ground, I wanted him [Aminul Islam] to do well. I did not know him personally and hadn't seen him play, but when I saw him in the nets, I felt he had that X -factor. I am really happy for the way he bowled today [Wednesday]. I was telling Shakib [Al Hasan] the way he bowled was outstanding. He is a good fielder and also has good ability with the bat. If he is able to continue in such manner, he can play for Bangladesh for a long time.
MAHMUDULLAH RIYAD
ON YOUNG LEGGIE AMINUL ISLAM
After the restlessness in the entire thinking process from the Tigers' team management which had a negative impact on game plans and led to a string of disappointments in the recent past, Bangladesh's decision to come out with rather conventional cricket paid dividends against Zimbabwe in Chattogram yesterday.
The team management had come up with some outside-the-box strategies starting with the one-off Test against Afghanistan earlier this month by opting for an all-spin bowling attack against the newest Test-playing nation. Whether it was that step, or even promoting someone like Mushfiqur Rahim to open the innings for the first time in his 12-year career in the second game of the ongoing tri-nation T20I series, the ploys proved horribly wrong for the Tigers.
That outside-the-box theory also alienated the mantra of banking on their own strengths but Shakib Al Hasan's side came out with a rather clear mindset and approach to clinch a much-needed 39-run win over Zimbabwe to confirm a place in the final of the tri-nation T20I series.
Although Bangladesh opted to play two debutants at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in the form of Najmul Hossain and young leg-spinner Aminul Islam yesterday, the Tigers made sure to rely on their strengths and put the blocks in the right locations in the playing eleven.
The Tigers got a decent start courtesy quickfire 22-ball 38 from Liton Das, which was later cashed in on by two experienced campaigners -- Mushfiqur Rahim, batting at his regular number four position, and Mahmudullah Riyad at number five.
The pair stitched together a valuable 78-run fourth-wicket stand and although Mushfiqur was dismissed for 32, Mahmudullah made sure he remained till the end. He scored team-high 41-ball 62, which featured five sixes and a four, as Bangladesh posted 175 runs.
According to Mahmudullah, who scored a T20I fifty after over two years, the win was a breath of fresh air for the Tigers and he believed it would help them gain in confidence in the coming days.
"I think we were unable to do well in the recent past. We lost a series in Sri Lanka which was followed by the Test against Afghanistan. I think everyone had the hunger and we spoke about it as Shakib is very much involved. Our next step will be to continue the dominance and put up a same or even better performance to win against Afghanistan before the final, which would give us more confidence," Mahmudullah told reporters yesterday.
As with the bat, Bangladesh remained clinical with the ball. It was Aminul who grabbed his opportunity with both hands to make an impact on debut. He ended up with two wickets for just 18 runs in his four overs.
Coming in to bowl in the seventh over, Aminul picked up his maiden T20I wicket with just his third ball when he dismissed Tinotenda Mutumbodzi, who went for a big shot and was caught at long off.
The 19-year-old went on to pick his second wicket when he trapped Zimbabwe skipper Hamilton Masakadza, going for a slog sweep, leg before as the ball did not turn, instead going on to hit Masakadza's back foot.
"I was talking to him [Aminul Islam] on the field and told him: whatever you do, do it with courage. I think he was also feeling that. I felt that he was quite aggressive when he was bowling and fielding, which is very important in T20 cricket. It might not work every day, but it will give him success most of the time. I am very happy about his performance," Mahmudullah said.