Bangladesh batting let the team down in Zimbabwe despite record haul, says Nahid Rana
Rana also dismissed concerns about missing the one-off Test, saying he was focused on white-ball preparation during that period.
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Bangladesh pacer Nahid Rana has pointed to the batting unit as the primary reason behind the team's 25-run defeat to Zimbabwe in the series-opening ODI at the Harare Sports Club on Monday, July 6, despite himself claiming the best bowling figures ever recorded by a Bangladeshi in the format's history.
The right-arm quick ended with figures of 6 for 21 from 10 overs, including two maidens, eclipsing Mashrafe Mortaza's 6 for 26 against Kenya in 2006 to set a new national ODI record. His spell had Bangladesh on the brink of victory when Zimbabwe crashed to 70 for 8, but Richard Ngarava and Newman Nyamhuri's counter-attacking 63-run partnership for the ninth wicket pushed the hosts to 141. Bangladesh, needing 142 to win on a pitch that continued to offer seam movement throughout, were bowled out for 116 in 33.1 overs, handing Zimbabwe a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
"I think we started well bowling-wise, but when it came to batting we couldn't do well and if we hadn't lost back to back wickets and put on a good partnership, result could've been different today," Rana said as quoted by Cricbuzz.
Nahid Rana sets Bangladesh ODI bowling record with 6 for 21
Nahid Rana on Zimbabwe's ninth-wicket recovery
The Bangladesh fast bowler also reflected on the decisive ninth-wicket stand, saying the bowling unit gave away more runs than they should have during that phase.
"They had a partnership going for them for the last (second last wicket), if I had taken that wicket earlier then they would have been restricted for less, it would have been better for us, I felt our bowlers bowled a bit loose at that time," Rana added.
Reflecting on his own performance, the paceman acknowledged that despite the record-setting spell, the team result was what mattered most.
"Of course I always enjoy my bowling, and when I feel it's my day I try to make full use of it and help my team win, I couldn't do it today (help team win). If our bowlers had broken that partnership then the result could have been different today," Rana said.
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Nahid Rana on missing Bangladesh's Test against Zimbabwe
Rana, who was rested for the one-off Test against Zimbabwe that Bangladesh lost by an innings and 85 runs at the same venue, also addressed his absence from the longer format, clarifying it was part of a structured workload management plan.
"I wouldn't say I missed being out of the lone Test as it was down to my workload management, that time I was preparing for the upcoming one-day series," Rana said as quoted by Cricbuzz.
Bangladesh will look to level the three-match ODI series when they face Zimbabwe in the second game at the Harare Sports Club on Thursday, July 9.
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