Bangladesh opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim has called for more responsibility from the team’s batters after a sudden collapse cost them the first ODI against Sri Lanka in Colombo.
Bangladesh was cruising at 101 for 1 in their chase of 245, thanks to a 71-run partnership between Tanzid and Shanto for the second wicket. Then, it all unraveled.
Najmul Hossain Shanto was run out. Tanzid followed him later in the same over. The scoreline soon read 108 for 6. From there, it became 167 all out. Bangladesh lost the match by 77 runs, and the momentum with it.
“We had a long discussion about the last match,” Tanzid said on Friday. “The coaches told us that on a wicket like this, those who get set need to finish things off.”
The message was simple: new batters struggle on this surface. If you’re in, stay in.
That advice will be tested immediately. The second ODI, also at R. Premadasa Stadium, is set for Saturday. The pitch is expected to behave similarly.
“If Shanto bhai and I had stayed another 10 to 15 overs, it would’ve been much easier,” Tanzid added. “So, the focus is now on batting long. That’s the key.”
Collapse Fueled by Poor Matchups
Tanzid also pointed to tactical lapses.
Legspinner Wanindu Hasaranga, who took 4 for 10, ran through the middle order. Tanzid believes things might have gone differently if the left-handers had shielded the right-handers better.
“The left-hand batters need to take as much strike as possible,” he said. “He’s less effective against left-handers. A few pieces of info like that were shared. Hopefully, they’ll help us next match.”
When Tanzid and Shanto were batting, Hasaranga stayed out of the attack. Their 12 boundaries had forced Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka to hold him back. Once the partnership broke, Hasaranga came on—and Bangladesh folded quickly.
Low Scores, Lost Confidence
Tanzid scored 62 but wasn’t satisfied.
“I don’t think I played well,” he said. “I didn’t meet the team’s expectations. There’s a chance to come back. One match is done. The next one is important.”
That comeback won’t be easy.
Bangladesh are in the middle of an eight-month ODI drought. They’ve lost seven straight matches in the format, excluding one abandoned in Rawalpindi earlier this year.
They’re also missing senior players Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah. That absence was felt.
In the first ODI, Bangladesh’s middle order struggled badly, with positions 4 to 6 adding just a single run. Both Litton Das and captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz were dismissed for ducks. Towhid Hridoy made only one.
It was the lowest middle-order return in Bangladesh’s ODI history. Not since 2006 had their engine room delivered a single-digit total.
Looking Ahead
Bangladesh trail the series 0–1. With two matches left, the team has little room for error.
The next game, Tanzid said, is a chance for reset.
“We know what went wrong. Now it’s about correcting it. We still believe we’re in it.”
