DHAKA, Oct 24, 2024 (BSS) - Bangladesh allrounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz said the team has taken the responsibility of the seven-wicket defeat to South Africa in the first cricket Test after failing to play to their expectation.

The hosts came into the game as favourite to win the match but the reckless batting show dug their graveyards at the home condition.

“Everyone has expectation on us to win when we play at our own condition but I admitted that we couldn’t play to the expectation,” Miraz said after the Test match at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium today. 

“We know Mirpur pitch well than anyone else. So we’ll take the responsibility of this defeat. We have another match in Chattogram. We’ll try to win that and make a comeback,” he added. 

Miraz was the only shining spot of Bangladesh in a completely disappointing match. Bangladesh were bowled out for just 106 in the first innings and conceded 202-run lead when South Africa’s inexperienced batting line up replied with 308 all out.

An innings defeat stared at them before Miraz played a stubborn 97 to help Bangladesh compile 307 and set 106-run target for South Africa.

The top order failure basically was key in Bangladesh’s defeat, albeit Miraz didn’t blame anyone else. 

“Yes it’s right that if we got runs from the top order it could have been better,” Miraz said. “The effort should be 50 percent more that what our top order gave. Almost all of the top order batters started innings well but couldn’t convert it to big innings. In Pakistan, when we racked up 500 plus total, opener Shadman scored big runs, Mominul, Mushfiqur and Liton also played well,” he added.

Bangladesh came into the match with three-pronged spin attack along with just one pacer even though of late fast bowler’s performance was praiseworthy.

Miraz said the decision was taken keeping Mirpur pitch in the mind.

“We all know Mipur pitch offers turn and bounce aplenty and assist the spinners. It’s not that we played with one pacer for the first time. But the condition was not as spin-friendly as we expected,” he remarked, taking the blame on himself also for not doing well with the ball. 

“Still Taijul did well. If I and Nayeem could have done better, things would be good for us. Specially from me, the team wants more. The team wants me to take four or five wickets and win the match. I couldn’t fulfil the team’s expectation with the ball,” he said. 

Taijul’s good work left South Africa 108-6 at one phase but Kyle Verreynne and Wiaan Mulder shared 119-run for the seventh wicket to help the side take big lead. 

Both of the batters played sweep and reverse-sweep astutely to make the spinners disarray, something which came as surprise for Bangladesh. 

Verreynne made 114 and was adjudged man of the match while Mulder scored 54.
“Bowlers’ task became tougher if batters can’t put up runs on the board. Still our bowlers bowled very well,” Miraz said.

“It’s right that every batter won’t get run but it’s important that three or four batters make runs. So bowlers were in pressure but still the credit should be given to the bowlers for bowling tirelessly. Taijul really did well. Hopefully we’ll make a good comeback in the next Test.”

While Miraz helped Bangladesh recover in the second innings, he missed his second century by three runs, being out for 97.

“It feels bad definitely (missing century) but what is more frustrating is that I couldn’t execute the plan on Day 4. I was not thinking about century, I was just thinking about to set a good target for South Africa,” he informed.

South Africa didn’t take new ball on Day 3 evening session, largely due to the shortage of the light. But on Day 4 morning, they took the second new ball and wrapped up Bangladesh in just 25 minutes.

Bangladesh batters’ vulnerability against the new ball is well documented and Miraz stressed upon the requirements of honing the skill.

“We know in Test cricket we have to bat against new ball after 80 overs. So we have been working to deal with the new ball. In Test cricket after 80 overs, you will be tired but to survive you need to know how to tackle the new ball,” he added.