DHAKA, March 30, 2021 (BSS)—Bangladesh head coach Russell Domingo refused to show any excuse for their defeat against New Zealand in the second T20 match that cost them the three-match series but said that the DLS confusion and conditions stacked against them at McLean Park in Napier today.
Bangladesh lost the second T20 by 28 runs through D/L method but not before the drama as they didn’t know what their revised target was after New Zealand ended their innings of 173-5 in 17.5 following the interruption of rain for twice.
The Tigers were under impression that they needed to chase 148 in 16 overs but nine balls later they came to know that the target was set at 170. Later, it was revised again and the target stood at 171 in 16 overs.
“I haven’t been in a game before where the batters go out to bat and don’t know what the target is, don’t know what the DLS target is with a lot of rain around,” Domingo said after the match.
“No one had any ideas as to how many we need after five overs or six overs. I don’t think the game should have started until the target was finalized and any clear indications as to what is required at certain stages of the match,” he added.
He went on to saying: “What has been explained now is that they normally get it one or two deliveries into the innings, but hadn’t received it and there were delays and all sorts of stuff. But no excuses, though very frustrating. They were waiting for the printouts and the calculations to take place and could not delay the game any longer. It’s very frustrating.”
Terming the overall situation as ‘very frustrating’, he said, all stacked against them in the second match.
“Look, I have never seen a team field for that long in that much rain. I mean it was raining and ball was wet and slippery. No excuses, but just seemed to stack all against us in terms of conditions. I have never seen a game start while it’s rainy again and we came back out for four or five overs again. I don’t know if the rules have changed but I was under the impression the covers don’t come off until the rain stops and the first ball can’t get bowled until rain stops. Very frustrating overall,” he pointed out.
Bangladesh though lost Liton Das cheaply, they were still in the game thanks to Soumya Sarkar’s fluent batting. Soumya was removed after blasting 51 off 27 but his dismissal ushered a capitulation of run-chase.
“A hundred after 10 overs, I think we got off to a great start. Very happy with the intensity of how we went about things which is a marked improvement from our previous game. Obviously didn’t finish well but some real positives for us today,” he said.
He said that Bangladesh would take positives from this match and put up a good performance in the series after ending the third T20 in April to end win-draught on New Zealand soil.
“It’s a tough place and our record here is not great. We showed glimpses of what we can do but we haven’t been consistent enough. Hopefully we can be consistent for the whole 40 overs in the next game. If you have a bad five overs, they will pounce on you and take the game away from you. Hopefully we can put a complete performance,” he remarked.