Topsy-turvy top-order a worry for Tigers

Despite putting up a commendable 181-7 on the way to their comfortable victory over Papua New Guinea on Thursday, the top-order continues to be a worry for Bangladesh going into the Super 12 stage of the ongoing T20 World Cup.

Once again, Bangladesh lost one of their openers early, and Mushfiqur Rahim continued on his lean patch. If not for knocks from Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah Riyad, Bangladesh were once again in trouble.

Mohammad Naim, after his 64-run knock against Oman, went in the second ball of the innings against PNG, holing out to the only fielder deployed in the leg-side boundary. Liton Das, who had scores of five and six coming into this match, got off to a decent start but fell prey trying to slog sweep and picked out the only fielder in the square leg region.

Mushfiq, who has only one 30+ knock in his last eight innings, was out to a short delivery which, in fairness, he should have dispatched to the boundary.

Against Oman, Naim survived to score big, whereas Liton managed to get out for his seventh single-digit score in his last 11 innings in Twenty20 internationals.

The opening partnership has failed to provide Bangladesh with any kind of boost in recent days as in the last 10 T20Is, Bangladesh have had only one opening stand beyond 50.

Against an inexperienced Papua New Guinea, the middle and lower-order managed to bail Bangladesh out. But against the big guns in the Super 12 stage, Bangladesh will need their openers, presumable Liton and Naim, to give them a better start to achieve their goal of reaching the semi-finals.

And they need Mushfiq’s form back too. Because without him in his full flow, Bangladesh are likely to struggle against oppositions with a quality bowling attack.