Tanzid rues failure to bat deep after Bangladesh concede ODI series

Tanzid rues failure to bat deep after Bangladesh concede ODI series

Bangladesh opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim admitted his side could have taken a leaf out of Zimbabwe opener Ben Curran's book, with the left-hander proving to be the difference between the two teams in the series-deciding second ODI in Harare on Thursday.

Zimbabwe sealed the three-match ODI series with a game to spare after beating Bangladesh by 13 runs, having won the opening fixture by 25 runs. Curran struck an unbeaten 111 to power the hosts to a competitive 246 for 6 before Zimbabwe's bowlers held their nerve to defend the total, despite Bangladesh threatening at one stage of the chase.

Tanzid (57) and Towhid Hridoy (60) both scored half-centuries and added 84 runs for the third wicket, but unlike Curran, neither batter stayed till the end to guide Bangladesh home and level the series.

"When me and Hridoy were batting, we were well set. We needed a big partnership and one of us had to bat till the last ball. Both of us got out after our fifties and I think that's where we lost the match," said Tanzid.

"He [Curran] carried his innings till the last ball and we couldn't. That was the difference between the two teams.

"Our bowlers did a great job. The batters didn't bat well. We couldn't chase 142 in the first match either. We have to be more responsible. They played better than us, that's why we lost," he said.

Tanzid also acknowledged that fading light became a talking point during the closing stages, but insisted the decision to continue play rested with the on-field umpires. "I don't know whether international cricket should continue under that light or not, but that is the umpire's decision. I don't have anything to say about that," he added.