Towhid rues powerplay meltdown in Chattogram defeat

Bangladesh batter Towhid Hridoy said that lack of partnerships and loss of early wickets in the powerplay cost them in the three-match series opener against Ireland in Chattogram.

Ireland beat Bangladesh by 39 runs to take a 1-0 lead after the hosts stumbled while chasing 182, losing four wickets inside the first six overs – Litton Das, Tanzid Hassan, Parvez Hossain and Saif Hassan – and slipping to 20 for 4.

Hridoy, who anchored the innings with a career-best 83 off 50 balls, did not find enough support from the other end as the batting unit struggled to counter the disciplined Irish attack.

"The wicket is certainly very good. They played well and we couldn't perform well. There's no use blaming the wicket. We ourselves couldn't execute properly. We lost a few early wickets," Hridoy told reporters after the game.

"If we had managed a big partnership, the game might have been different. Ultimately, the game showed that we didn't score enough runs. Just one partnership, even when Zakir and I were batting. If we had a 70-80 run stand, maybe the scenario would have been different," he said.

"As I mentioned earlier, when Zakir and I had settled, our goal at that time was to take the game forward a bit more. That was our last pair, so it would have been easier for Rishad and Shakib. I believe they are both capable and they certainly bat well, both Shakib and Rishad. But if they had come a little later, perhaps when there were four or five overs left, the game might have been different," he said.

Hridoy said they need to adopt a more aggressive approach while chasing big totals and admitted they probably failed to execute what was required in the middle.

"I think, look, when there are 180+ runs on the board, you have to play shots. As I said just now, the execution perhaps wasn't done properly today. If our execution had been good early on, maybe it would have been different," he said.

"I think it is totally a mindset issue. It's not that we can't do it. We have done it, and we have chased 200 runs and won matches. If our mindset is right and if we can execute properly, I think it will not be that difficult. And it's not like we are chasing 200 or 180 runs every day. We have many players who are used to this. So, I hope we will overcome this, Insha'Allah, when we chase big scores," he said.

"We must have that belief in ourselves. And we all certainly want to perform. Maybe the execution is not happening, but ultimately, we have to take responsibility.

"We never think that our team has gone down. This is the T20 format. We are losing four consecutive matches, or one or two series, or three or four matches, it can happen. T20 is a game of momentum. We are losing, but when we start winning again from the next match, Insha'Allah, you will see it continue," he said.

Hridoy added that the team still backs the idea of chasing, especially with the dew factor in play.

"Look, we have been chasing very well recently. I don't think we have chased badly. If we don't do these things against the Ireland team, then against whom will we do them? Ultimately, then you will say that this team is… you will criticize many things. So, I think we chased very well, and the most important thing was the dew. The dew was a major factor here. It would be difficult for any team that comes here to win the toss and bowl," he said.

Meanwhile, Lorcan Tucker said they were happy to take the lead in the series and credited his teammates for checking all the boxes.

"I think it was a pretty comprehensive start for us in the series. I think it started with the powerplay. We got off to a really positive start. I think today I opened at the top for the first time in a while, and we really showed some intent. I think that gives confidence going forward," Tucker said.

"I think our plan with batters these days is to just trust your instinct. I think if you feel like you're playing well and you catch a certain bowler and you slice it, just take on that opportunity. I think that happened a few times out there where there were a couple of big overs. I think that was batters just trusting that they knew what was going on," he said.

"Obviously the bowlers bowled extremely well in the powerplay and I think it really changed the game," he said, adding that Matthew Humphreys impressed.

"I think he (Humphreys) was really accurate. I think that's the main thing we said – it's a pitch for accurate bowling, and I think if you bowl well, you get the value for it. I think we saw all day that balls that were missed full generally went for a four or six, but I think he was really accurate in his lengths," he said.

"I think our bowlers struggled a bit in the second innings to keep the ball dry, and I think it affects our fielding as well," he added.