DHAKA, Bangladesh – Coach of the Sagicor High Performance Centre team Graeme West said his side will try to recover from a demoralising nine-wicket defeat in the third One-day match against Bangladesh-A.
No Sagicor HPC batsman reached 20, as they were bowled out bowled out for 54 in 18 overs, after they decided to bat in the low-scoring, final match of their One-day series at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium on Tuesday.
The visitors then saw Mominul Haque, not out on 25, and Anamul Haque, not out on 23, knock off the runs with consummate ease in 8.4 overs.
"We got off to the worst possible start, when Andre Fletcher was run out from the first legal delivery of the match and we went downhill from there," West told WICB Media.
"We had a number of similar dismissals – bowled and lbw – and there was nothing untoward in the pitch, we just have to put it down to ‘one bad day at the office’."
The Sagicor HPC team made four changes, bringing Fletcher, fellow opener Trevon Griffith, Kjorn Ottley and Jason Dawes in to replace Jermaine Blackwood, Marlon Barclay, Kyle Hope and Sheldon Cotterrell.
"We gave a few of the guys that have not had much batting on the tour an opportunity in this match," said West.
"Unfortunately, they did not take their opportunities and several of the guys that have been very successful up to now, didn’t make contributions. But I am confident they will do well in the last two matches on the tour."
West said he was disappointed by the performance, but the Sagicor HPC team had won the One-day series 2-1, following an 11-run win in the first match last Friday at the same venue, where they also clinched a 53-run victory in the second match two days ago.
"We have batted reasonably well in the previous two matches without any player getting a really big score to push us up to 250, 260, which is what we felt was a par score in the conditions, but we have had a lot of contributions throughout the team," he said.
"Looking at our bowling, the contribution of the three spinners has been outstanding and it has been backed up very well with our fielding. We’ve held onto our catches and the bowlers have kept things very tight which all contributed to the pressure applied to the opposition, hence our success in the first two matches."
The two sides will now contest a two-match Twenty20 series on Thursday and Friday before the Sagicor HPC leave for home on Saturday.
West said his side will have to raise their standard of play another notch, since the hosts plan to include a few of their players that just returned from the ICC World Twenty20 Tournament taking place in Sri Lanka.
"We have to put [Tuesday’s] experience quickly behind us, and they will be looking to strengthen their side," he said.
"We’ll need to raise our game again, prepare well on Wednesday, before the two matches on Thursday and Friday provide us with another good test, but I am confident that the positive approach of our players will come through."
The Sagicor HPC players leave to return home on Saturday.