Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain said on Saturday that Nuwan Thushara’s hat-trick changed the course of the game. The Sri Lankan pacer dismantled Bangladesh’s top order by dismissing Najmul (one), Tawhid Hridoy (0) and Mahmudullah (0) in successive deliveries in the fourth over of the run-chase as well.
With this, he became the sixth bowler- and second Sri Lankan – to take a hat-trick against Bangladesh in this format as well. Sri Lanka won the series 2-1 as Bangladesh were beaten by 28 runs at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on the back of Thushara’s brilliant bowling display. However, he also removed Soumya Sarkar (11) and Shoriful Islam (4) to end the day with returns of 5 for 20 as well.
“I think so (that over changed the game) and he bowled really well and we must credit the bowler and yes we went behind in that one over,” Najmul Hossain told reporters following the game. “I think if we could’ve played that over well or handled the new ball in a better way, it would have been a different ball game. This doesn’t always happen (such kind of an over) and I must credit the bowler the way he bowled and it was not easy. But in such a situation, how we can minimize the damage will be important for us.”
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“His action is different and normally we don’t play such kind of action too often in the previous two matches we handled Patheerana well but initially along with that action there was swing as well but you have to accept these kinds of challenges at the international level and how we have to make a plan how we can play better cricket. I think he was getting some swing with that action and he didn’t had lot of bounce the action is side-on action and as the ball was keeping low there was swing along with that,” he again said.
Meanwhile, he believed there were a few positives too as the way they bounced back was commendable. And, he also added that playing in this kind of wickets will help them for the World Cup as well.
“There are a lot of positives like the way we made a comeback after losing a wicket in the opening game and in this match. The way bowler came back in the last four-five overs in today’s match so there is a lot of positive sign and it will help in future,” he said adding that he was impressed with Rishad’s bowling as well as his batting. I think he bowled according to the condition and batting wise it was required because we play with six genuine batsmen and there is an all-rounder so this kind of innings will be helpful in the future. I think we should play T20 matches in these kind of wickets. The bowlers are learning that you have to bowl well in good wickets and batters understand how to chase 170-180-200 runs. This is good preparation before the World Cup,” Najmul Hossain concluded.
