Bangladesh opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim has urged fellow batters to play long innings on the slow Colombo pitch at R Premadasa Stadium, warning that it is tough for new batters to settle on such wickets. Speaking before the second ODI against Sri Lanka, Tanzid emphasized that set batters must carry their innings deep to give the team a chance.
Reflecting on Bangladesh’s 77-run loss in the first ODI, where they collapsed from 99-3 to 104 all out losing seven wickets for just five runs, Tanzid admitted their inability to build partnerships cost them the match. He top-scored with 62 at a strike rate of 100, showcasing that batters who get set can score freely. He said if he and Najmul Hossain Shanto, who was run out after settling in, had batted another 5-10 overs, the game could have been in their favor.
Tanzid shared the team’s strategy ahead of Saturday’s match: new batters must take time to adjust before attacking, while set batters should aim to bat till the end. He acknowledged his own dismissal, saying he should have been more cautious seeing wickets fall rapidly.
Sri Lanka’s Charith Asalanka showed how to bat on the pitch, scoring a century to lead his team to 244. Bangladesh’s head coach Phil Simmons has also advised left-handers to play more against Sri Lankan leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, who took 4 for 10 in the first game.
Despite the previous collapse haunting the team, Tanzid remains confident that Bangladesh can bounce back to level the series with a win in the second ODI.
