Tigers ‘keeping feet on the ground’ despite maiden T20I win against Aussies

Despite registering their first-ever T20I victory against Australia, Bangladesh skipper Mahmudullah Riyad mentioned that they are keeping their feet on the ground as the Tigers prepare for the second T20I, to be played tomorrow in Mirpur.

"I'm not over the top, we've won, it's gone," said Mahmudullah after Bangladesh's 23-run victory in the first T20I against the Aussies.

Bangladesh went 1-0 ahead in the five-match series with the win but there isn't time to get overwhelmed with the historic victory as the Tigers are scheduled to play the next four T20s in a span of just six days.

"Now it's time to focus on the next game and try and be on top from the first ball, try and manage ourselves, keep our feet on the ground," added a determined Mahmudullah.

On a slow Mirpur pitch, Bangladesh batsmen were only able to put up a modest total of 131 for seven. Mahmudullah admitted that they were 10 runs short of the par score, but credited the bowlers for successfully defending the lowest-ever total in T20s by the Tigers.

"We had a team talk [after the first innings] that we were 10 runs short, so we would have to field well. It was outstanding, the hunger and energy was there. The bowlers executed their plans really well. You need to have an attacking mindset with the ball early on, that's what we did," Mahmudullah revealed how the Tigers approached the game after posting a sub-par total. 

Left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed, who went for plenty in the final T20I against Zimbabwe last month, redeemed himself with his career-best bowling display. The 26-year-old, playing only in his fifth T20I, picked up four wickets -- that included the crucial scalps of Mitchell Marsh and Australia skipper Matthew Wade -- for just 19 runs in his four overs.

Nasum, who was rightly adjudged player-of-the-match for his efforts, mentioned how Mahmudullah and premier all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan helped him during the game. 

"[Mahmudullah] Riyad bhai and Shakib [Al Hasan] bhai helped me a lot. They were constantly talking to me and guiding me before I went to bowl an over. I tried to execute according to their guidelines," Nasum said after the game.