Batters must raise hands: Bashar

Bangladesh skipper Habibul Bashar has just one target for his batsmen in tomorrow’s second limited-overs international against New Zeal...

Bangladesh skipper Habibul Bashar has just one target for his batsmen in tomorrow’s second limited-overs international against New Zealand; bat out the full compliment of 50 overs.

“Our target is to play all the 50 overs of the match,” Bashar told reporters today after a practice session. “We must not lose too many wickets in the first 15 overs.”

The one-dayer will be played at Dhaka’s Bangabandhu National Stadium, three days after Bangladesh’s 138-run loss in the opening game of the three-match series.

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In Tuesday’s opening match at Chittagong, Bangladesh dismissed New Zealand for 224 wih four balls to spare.

But Bangladesh’s batsmen did not fair so well as the home side was dismissed for 86 in just 31.5 overs.

Bangladesh lost four top-order batsmen within the first 15 overs for just 27 runs. It was the 11th consecutive match in which Bangladesh lost four top-order batsmen within the first 15 overs with scores less than 30.

“We want to perform well in the next two matches. My message to the boys is ‘stay in the crease as long as possible and make runs,’” Bashar said.