What exactly went wrong? Mehidy Hasan Miraz didn’t hold back following Bangladesh’s 99-run loss. He said a complete inability to form partnerships cost them the game and the series.
He pointed out the contrast. Sri Lanka looked cohesive. Bangladesh, chasing 286, did not. For Mehidy, the game was lost during that massive 124-run partnership from Mendis and Asalanka. His team simply couldn’t replicate it.
“When Hridoy and Jaker were batting together, I still believed we could win,” Mehidy said. “But we just couldn’t put together partnerships like Sri Lanka. We got a couple of 40s, but that’s not enough in ODI cricket.”
Middle Order Fails to Step Up
Towhid Hridoy led the scoring with 51, stitching partnerships of 42 with Emon and 43 with Mehidy. But those stands never evolved into something decisive. No batter carried on after getting set.
“We’re getting out too soon after settling in,” Mehidy said. “We can’t maintain momentum. When I was batting with Hridoy, we were close to turning the tide. Then I got out. That shifted the momentum again.”
Mehidy’s own dismissal came at a crucial moment. Trying to keep pace with the required run rate, he lofted one to long-on after scoring a quick 28 off 25.
“I thought I’d take a calculated risk, aiming for a boundary each over to ease pressure on Hridoy,” he said. “But I mistimed the shot. If I had connected, it could’ve gone for six.”
Also Read: Kusal Mendis Stars as Sri Lanka Seal Series Win with 99-Run Victory over Bangladesh
Batting 50 Overs Still an Issue
One of the recurring problems for Bangladesh throughout the series was their inability to play the full 50 overs. They were bowled out in 35.5, 48.5, and 39.4 overs across the three matches.
“It’s a concern for the team,” Mehidy said. “If we had batted properly, it would’ve helped. Our middle order has to take more responsibility. I couldn’t stay longer either.”
He acknowledged that he and other experienced batters have room to improve, especially in guiding innings during pressure situations.
Hridoy Left Without Support
Despite his second half-century of the series, Hridoy was left stranded again. Mehidy felt the lack of support around him limited his ability to accelerate.
“We kept losing wickets, so I think he couldn’t really accelerate,” Mehidy said. “There was always a setback when momentum was needed. If someone had stayed with him, things might’ve been different.”
Backing Natural Instincts Despite Setbacks
Mehidy admitted that the top order’s risk-taking approach can backfire, but he doesn’t want to restrict players from playing their natural game.
“They like to find boundaries. That’s their style,” he said. “If I try to stop them, it could disrupt things even more. We’re trying to back everyone’s strengths.”
Still, he noted the importance of emotional control and better strike rotation. Singles and calculated aggression, he suggested, might serve the team better than all-out risk.
“We have a lot of cricket ahead,” Mehidy said. “There’s a lot we need to work on.”
