Walsh urges bowlers to maintain consistency

COLOMBO, Mar 15 (AFP): Bangladesh interim coach Courtney Walsh on Thursday urged his bowlers to bring consistency to a must-win Twenty20 showdown against Sri Lanka that will book the victors a berth in the tri-nation series final.

The T20 minnows have triumphed in just one of their matches in Colombo, with their bowlers struggling in batting-friendly conditions throughout the tournament at R Premadasa Stadium.

Rubel Hossain has displayed the most consistency with four wickets but paceman Mustafizur Rahman has proved costly with an economy rate of close to 10.

"The bowlers have not bowled consistently as we would have liked but that does not mean they are bad bowlers overnight," Walsh told reporters in Colombo.

"The improvement is coming but probably not quick as we would have liked.

"It is different conditions and they are trying to get it right."

The West Indian great said he hoped Mustafizur "comes back to his best", adding he showed moments of brilliance in the Pakistan Super League.

Walsh, who has been working with Bangladesh's bowlers since 2016, was assigned coach for the tri-series after Chandika Hathurusingha quit.

Walsh, 55, insists that coaching staff were working to improve consistency.