The victory margin for visitors Sri Lanka could have been bigger (Innings and some few runs) but for some counter-attacking attitude by Shakib Al Hassan and Liton Das, Bangladesh just could avoid the humiliating innings defeat when batters surprised all after being all out for a paltry 169 runs.
It’s obviously something surprising that, the frontline batters just staged the episode of their first innings losing five wickets for 24 runs, when they every opportunity to end the Test on a draw.
But it’s simply very irresponsible batting debacle that put Bangladesh in the knife-edge of a defeat on fourth day, when they were reduced to 34-4 at stumps and were trailing by 107
runs and finally bundled out for 169 runs giving Sri Lanka 29 runs winning target. Much depended Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das actually raised some hope when the duo shared a record 272-run in the first innings after Bangladesh slumped to 24-5, were in the crease with 14 and 1 runs respectively. But smarting from their shock five-wicket loss was a great threat for the host for follow-on before their seamers ensured victory.
The Sri Lanka bowlers did a bloody good job on a tiring wickets, rocked up and took the wickets in regular interval after Litton Das and Shakib getting out.
Truly the disaster was ensued only for the reckless batting from the top order batters when batters like Tamim Iqbal (0), Mahmudul Hassan Joy (15), Najmul Hossain Shanto (2) and the captain Mominul Haque (0) could not convert their starts into big knocks, though Litton tried score freely to bring up his second back to back big innings accompanied by Shakib Al Hassan.
Unfortunately, they could not also go a long when they got out after scoring a fifty each (52 and 58 respectively).
Now there have a small demand to ask, what was the reason behind that all top orders batters got out in similar ways of their first innings. We believe every one of them has the quality and has the merits to play long innings, as previous record proved their mettle. The analysis established in authority and integrity that they used to lose their concentrations, mentally they are yet to be tough and can’t keep their cool. That’s why they have no consistency. If they could keep their cool, they could do better and inspired others to continue the momentous.
In these perilous times, a significant role is essential, like, Mushfique, Shakib and Litton Das played which fearlessly can through challenges and expose those in power.
Shakib Al Hassan was very much right when he was talking in the post-match press conference after the fourth day’s play on Thursday. The world’s number one all-rounder said, “We have to work on our mentality. I think there’s fear of failure among us.”
“We weren’t able to handle the pressure, and it has been happening like this recently.
“It is disappointing for us, one needs to be calm in these situations. There will be nervousness, will have fear. But it is important to handle pressure in these moments.”