SPORTS REPORTER

Bangladesh pace-bowling coach Talha Jubair admitted that a failure to build middle-order partnerships after quick wickets left them short of a competitive total, resulting in a four-wicket defeat to Australia in the first T20I at the Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium in Chattogram on Wednesday.

Bangladesh initially had a decent start with the bat before both Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Saif Hassan fell to loose shots on a slightly tacky wicket. Although the powerplay yielded 52 runs for two wickets, a familiar collapse ensued as they lost their next five wickets for 34 runs in just 34 deliveries.

Adam Zampa and Joel Davies capitalised during this period, dismantling the innings by removing Tawhid Hridoy, Soumya Sarkar, and Parvez Hossain Emon.

“We hurried ourselves a bit. We had a good Powerplay but could not carry on from there,” Talha Jubair said at the post-match press conference.

“Had we built partnerships of 30–40 runs, we could have anchored the innings. We knew it wasn’t a 200-run wicket, but because the start was good, our batters got carried away when they began connecting their shots.”

Bangladesh’s batters failed to take the wind into account, which Australia utilised to brilliant effect. Soumya and Emon attempted big shots but failed to clear the rope, falling for 17 and 10 respectively.

“The shot Emon got out to would have been a big six without the wind, but the ball didn’t clear the field,” Jubair noted.

“We fell into their trap. They wanted us to hit against the wind and mistime our shots. There was a need for sensible batting, but back-to-back wickets fell.”

Bangladesh were eventually bowled out for 131 in 19 overs, despite Mahedi Hasan’s unbeaten 22-ball 29, leaving them to regret not playing their full quota.

Australian debutant Davies, who claimed three wickets alongside Zampa, outlined they had indeed set a trap.

“With the wind blowing towards the longer boundary, Mitchell [Marsh] suggested making them hit into it. I got two wickets from that, so it was a nice plan by him.”