Mehidy Hasan Criticizes Bowlers Following 3-0 ODI Series Defeat Against West Indies

Basseterre (St Kitts), December 13 (NationPress) Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz expressed his frustration with the bowlers following a four-wicket defeat to West Indies in the final ODI, leading to a 3-0 series loss at Warner Park on Thursday.

Bangladesh set a challenging target of 321/5, bolstered by half-centuries from Soumya Sarkar (73), Mehidy (77), Jaker Ali (62 not out), and Mahmudullah (84 not out) after choosing to bat first.

In response, debutant Amir Jangoo achieved his maiden ODI century with a score of 104 not out, while Keacy Carty contributed 95, leading the West Indies to a four-wicket victory with 25 balls remaining as Bangladesh’s bowling struggled to contain the chase.

The hosts stumbled early at 4/86 within 14.1 overs, but the crucial partnership of 132 runs between Jangoo and Carty shifted momentum, with Gudakesh Motie adding a significant 44 not out in their match-winning effort.

Mehidy lamented, "Losing after scoring 320 runs is truly disappointing. I never expected we would lose this match. Although we took four wickets in the first 20 overs, they forged a partnership of 150 runs without us managing to take any more wickets while they scored freely. Our bowling was not up to par, which was likely the issue."

He added, "They had to chase at around 6.50 runs per over, and we needed to be strategic in our approach. The pitch was favorable, and small errors on our part contributed to the loss. Each bowler faced challenges on this wicket due to the batsmen's aggressive shots enhancing their scoring opportunities. We needed to perform better, both pacers and spinners alike."

Mehidy recognized the series loss as a setback for Bangladesh's morale ahead of the Champions Trophy, but he stressed that there remains time to rectify their weaknesses before the global event. Bangladesh's recent ODI performance has been lackluster, with five losses in their last six matches, including series defeats to Afghanistan and the West Indies. Their sole ODI triumph this year was a 2-1 series victory against Sri Lanka.

"This year, we played six matches post-World Cup and lost five of them. We have been focusing on Test cricket, but we need to shift our attention to ODI. With the Champions Trophy approaching, winning this series would have significantly boosted our confidence. We still have time to address our weaknesses," said Mehidy.

"On a positive note, we have consistently scored close to 300 runs in two matches. In the first game, we scored 295 runs and today 321 runs. Jaker Ali finished strongly, while Riyad bhai (Mahmudullah) played well, and both Tanzid Tamim and Soumya contributed significantly, as did I in two innings... so overall, our batters performed decently.

Looking ahead to the Champions Trophy, we anticipate favorable wickets there. It will be a challenge for our bowlers. Since we lost after scoring 300 runs, we can adopt a mindset focused on defending such totals and improve upon it," he concluded.

Bangladesh will now aim for improved performances in the upcoming three-match T20I series, commencing in Kingstown on Sunday.