Tamim eyes good show on day five
Wednesday, 31 December 2008
Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal is quite optimistic about having a very good Test match ahead if the pair of Mohammad Ashraful and Shakib Al Hasan could bat through the first session of the 5th day of the 1st Test against Sri Lanka today (Wednesday), reports UNB.
"We didn't lose wickets in the later stages of the day (Tuesday) and it's a positive sign. If this pair can bat through the first session, I think there will be a very good Test match ahead," he said at a post-match press conference at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium (SBNS) in Dhaka Tuesday.
About his own departure after getting a start, he said: "To be honest, I was a bit tense today (Tuesday) and also feeling the pressure of nerve. Because, in the last few innings, I got out after scoring 20-30 runs.
"And when I reached such range of scores, I started to feel pressure. So, I wanted to complete my fifty in a hurry today. I might not play such a shot if I were not in this kind of situation," he added.
Chasing a huge target of 521, Tamim became the 2nd Bangladesh batsman to fall for 47 off 53 balls that included eight scorching fours before being caught behind off the bowling of pacer Dammika Prasad leaving the team total at 72.
About their tendency to play too many shots, the 19-year old said: "This is much better to do against their bowling attacks. Muralitharan is a world class bowler, the more you will defend him, the chance of his getting wickets will increase further.
"I think it is better to attack him (Muralitharan) that Ashraful did. As far as I have seen, Ashraful does play Murali better. So, I think our approach was right."
About the run out of opener Imrul Kayes just two balls before lunch, Tamim admitted that he felt more guilt than Imrul, saying it was a "silly run under the circumstances."
Tamim told a questioner that they had no specific plan while facing Muralitharan. "Bowlers bowled according to their plan and we batted according to our plan," he said.
"We didn't lose wickets in the later stages of the day (Tuesday) and it's a positive sign. If this pair can bat through the first session, I think there will be a very good Test match ahead," he said at a post-match press conference at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium (SBNS) in Dhaka Tuesday.
About his own departure after getting a start, he said: "To be honest, I was a bit tense today (Tuesday) and also feeling the pressure of nerve. Because, in the last few innings, I got out after scoring 20-30 runs.
"And when I reached such range of scores, I started to feel pressure. So, I wanted to complete my fifty in a hurry today. I might not play such a shot if I were not in this kind of situation," he added.
Chasing a huge target of 521, Tamim became the 2nd Bangladesh batsman to fall for 47 off 53 balls that included eight scorching fours before being caught behind off the bowling of pacer Dammika Prasad leaving the team total at 72.
About their tendency to play too many shots, the 19-year old said: "This is much better to do against their bowling attacks. Muralitharan is a world class bowler, the more you will defend him, the chance of his getting wickets will increase further.
"I think it is better to attack him (Muralitharan) that Ashraful did. As far as I have seen, Ashraful does play Murali better. So, I think our approach was right."
About the run out of opener Imrul Kayes just two balls before lunch, Tamim admitted that he felt more guilt than Imrul, saying it was a "silly run under the circumstances."
Tamim told a questioner that they had no specific plan while facing Muralitharan. "Bowlers bowled according to their plan and we batted according to our plan," he said.