With search still ongoing for a paceman allrounder, Bangladesh will look for vast improvements in their bowling as well as batting for their series-levelling win in their second T20I game against Australia on Friday, report agencies.
The opening T20I exposed Bangladesh's persistent batting frailties. Unable to counter a disciplined Australian bowling attack, particularly the spinners, the hosts were bowled out for just 131 in 19 overs.
Australian spinners claimed nine of the 10 Bangladesh wickets before the visitors comfortably chased down the target in 18.2 overs.
Tigers' batters were guilty of going for too many big hits. They made a strong start in the powerplay but all their main batters (except Shamim Hossain who got out to a superb delivery) fell while trying to hit sixes. Stand-in captain Towhid Hridoy and Soumya Sarkar were the most senior batters in the line-up, but both failed to give the middle order enough support.
Shoriful Islam once again struck early though he was a bit expensive. Debutant Abdul Gaffar Saqlain took two wickets towards the end.
Saqlain is a bustling cricketer who bowls plenty of cutters mixed with his seam-up deliveries, apart from being a big-hitting batter down the order.
Bangladesh sent him to No. 6 for match-up purposes, but it did not really work out. It is early days for Saqlain, who later picked up two wickets. He is likely to be given couple of more chances to get settled in the team.
"As a batting unit, we failed today, so hopefully we will overcome from here. We all know what kind of mistake we made, so hopefully the next match we will overcome it," Hridoy said after the defeat.
"We lost back to back wickets in the middle and that's why we didn't build a partnership. As I mentioned earlier, we will overcome."
After falling short in the ODIs, Australia's bounced back against Bangladesh in the shortest format and will now look to ride on the momentum to secure the series.
Cooper Connolly continued his fine form from the last ODI in which he made 149, to score another quickfire 47 in the first T20I. He struck the ball sweetly down the ground, finding seven boundaries including three sixes. There will be a few concerns about the rest of the batters as Connolly had a bit of support from Tim David and Matt Renshaw.
The bowling, however, was spot on, particularly from their spinners as Adam Zampa and newcomer Joel Davies put Bangladesh under pressure.
Renshaw and Nikhil Chaudhary were almost amongst the wickets too, as Australia grabbed nine wickets with spin.
Cooper Connolly has now played two match-winning knocks for Australia on this tour. He made 149 in the third ODI in which he fought off cramps and Bangladesh's late fast bowling onslaught.
Connolly also made 47 in a tricky 132-run chase in the first T20I. Travis Head and Cameron Green returning to the T20I side at some stage will have a bearing on Connolly's future, but he has already given a strong suggestion that he can make the No. 3 position his own with his array of shots and ability to withstand tough conditions.
Expressing satisfaction at his side's performance in the opening game, Australia captain Mitchell Marsh said his team would be aiming to wrap up the series with another victory.
"It's always nice to start a series with a win, especially a three-match series. So, yeah, a good start for the boys," Marsh said.
The Australian skipper also noted that the pitch behaved differently from those used during the ODI series.
"We were probably a little bit surprised at the lack of pace and bounce in the wicket, but I thought that we picked a really well-rounded team," he said.
The two teams have met 12 times in T20 internationals, with Australia holding an 8-4 advantage. Bangladesh's four victories came during their memorable 4-1 series triumph over Australia in Mirpur in 2021, the last T20 series contested between the sides.
Bangladesh have big calls to take regarding their bowling attack as they have Nahid Rana and Taskin Ahmed at their disposal. Litton Das continues to be monitored for his left calf injury.
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