Miraz rues lack of partnerships in series-deciding ODI

Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz pointed out the lack of big partnership as the reason for a big defeat in the series-deciding third ODI against Sri Lanka at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium today.

The visiting side lost the game by 99 runs to squander the series 2-1. Bangladesh lost the first match by 77 runs before hitting back with a 16-run victory in the second ODI.

"We didn't get partnerships in the middle, and from the openers. That was the problem for us," Miraz said after the match.

Bangladesh's highest partnership in the match was 43 between Towhid Hridoy and Miraz himself for the fourth wicket. Hridoy who made team-best 51, also had a 42-run partnership with Parvez Hossain Emon for the second wicket.

Apart from those two 40 plus partnerships, Bangladesh even failed to get 30 plus partnership in the match as they were chasing a 286-run target.

They were eventually bowled out for 186 in 39.2 overs, leaving 64 balls unused.

"If we get the chance we should bat deep, and the last 10 overs we can go harder," Miraz said, admitting that they made several mistakes that cost them the game. "But I think we made mistakes. We couldn't get the partnership right and couldn't bat deep."

Bangladesh restricted Sri Lanka to 285-7, a total that was chaseable as the wicket was ideal for batting.

"I think we bowled really well in the last 10 overs. It's not easy to bowl here, because the wicket was excellent," Miraz said, adding that the likes of Taskin, Mustafizur and the spinners did very well to restrict Sri Lanka in a chaseable total.

"I think the wicket was excellent, we discussed about playing positive. But at the end, it didn't happen."

Citing his side as a young team, he urged to give them enough time to make the things right.

"Our team is young, they need time. If you give opportunity it might pay off one day," he said.