Lack of big innings continued to hurt Bangladesh as they were bundled out for 248 runs in 45.5 overs in their second ODI against Sri Lanka at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Saturday.
Three batters reached double figures while two of the top four went past fifty for Bangladesh after opting to bat first. However, none could go past 67 as they kept losing wickets in clusters.
After a solid first powerplay of 65 runs with the loss of Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto and Parvez Hossain built a 63-run partnership off 55 balls.
The partnership was broken when Shanto threw his wicket away after making 14, while Parvez scored 67 off 69 before he failed to read a googly off Wanindu Hasaranga.
Bangladesh lost 3-53, including the wicket of Mehidy Hasan Miraz, in the first 12.4 overs of the second powerplay.
Shamim Hossain, who came in the place of Liton Das, was fizzing, except a short ball off Asitha Fernando did the trick.
Towhid Hridoy was run out after scoring the second fifty (51) of the innings, but he was among the four batters who fell for just 14 runs.
Tanzim Hasan鈥檚 late blitz of 33* off 21 helped Bangladesh to post a challenging total, but evidently a lack of a big score halted their progression.
After the loss in the first ODI, the thoughts of going big were echoed from the Bangladesh camp, but they failed again to do so.
Since the start of 2023, Bangladeshi batters managed just eight hundreds in ODIs, which put them 12th on the list. Even the associates, like Scotland and the USA, are above them.
However, only four of those eight hundreds were fruitful, as the remaining four came in losing causes.
When it comes to scoring fifties since 2023, Bangladesh are seventh on the list with 64 such innings, but most of those came when Bangladesh lost the match.
In fact, Bangladesh are top of the list of such innings where batters get to fifty but the team loses.
Not only hundreds; Bangladesh batters have been struggling to convert their fifties to even 80s. Only 19 such innings have been played for them since 2023, which places them at 10.
Bangladesh have recently slipped to number 10 in the ICC ODI rankings and are in danger of missing the direct qualification for the next World Cup.
The top order has started to click for them in recent times, but performances from a new-looking middle order would be vital.
But Bangladesh need big scores from their batters, be it from the top or middle.
