'Top-order batting made the difference'

Bangladesh succumbed to a seemingly inevitable eight-wicket defeat to Pakistan at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram as the visitors strolled towards the victory on the fifth day of the first Test.

No miracle took place on day five as Pakistan’s top order again put up a clinical performance and took the game away from Bangladesh. Mominul Haque, the captain of the Bangladesh Test team, said after the match that the performances of the top-order batsmen of both teams made a crucial difference.

“Obviously, it (performances of the top-order batsmen from both the teams) created the entire difference. In the first innings, we were four down for 40 (49 actually), and in the second innings, we scored even less (29-4). If such things happen at the top, it is difficult to come back into the game. The game would be different if someone from the top could contribute,” said Mominul.

Mominul also took the blame as he is also a part of the top-order.

“I am also a part of the top-order. All the other players in the top-order are inexperienced, have hardly played around 10 Tests, whereas I have played more than 40. So, I am also responsible for the poor result,” he said after the match.

The Chattogram Test offered Bangladesh a few individual achievements, but as a team, Bangladesh lost convincingly. Mominul said that it has been the case since his debut as a captain, but things must change.

“I have been seeing this for the last few years. Especially, I am noticing it more after I have become the captain. We all know what we need to do. Irrespective of formats, we don’t have those one or two players who can win a match for us singlehandedly. To win, we must perform as a team which we lack. Like, Taijul (Islam) took seven wickets in the first innings, but if someone from the other end also picked a few wickets or if someone stepped up in the second innings, it could be a different scenario. Even our statistics show that we win matches when we perform collectively,” Mominul told the media.

Bangladesh made two comebacks in this Test and took the lead in the first innings but ended up losing. Mominul said that he does not find solace in petty success.

“You might think that we were in control, but we were never controlling the game. What I think is that for Liton and Mushfiq (ur Rahim) bhai with the bat, and Taijul with the ball, we gave a tough fight till day four, but we slipped in the second innings,” said the Bangladesh captain.