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Champions Trophy – Coach Phil Simmons asks Bangladesh’s top order to step up against New Zealand

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Bangladesh’s head coach Phil Simmons emphasized the need for the top order to perform against New Zealand after a disappointing defeat to India. He pointed out that poor starts with both bat and ball played a crucial role in their loss, as they fell to 35 for 5 early on. Simmons stressed the importance of assessing conditions quickly and improving first-10-over performances, aiming for a target over 300. Meanwhile, New Zealand’s captain Mitchell Santner highlighted his team’s confidence following their convincing win against Pakistan. Bangladesh awaits the fitness of Mahmudullah, who missed the first game due to injury.

For Bangladesh to have any hope against New Zealand, their top-order batsmen must deliver, according to head coach Phil Simmons. Following a heavy defeat to India in their opening match, this encounter is crucial for their tournament prospect.

Simmons pointed out that the team squandered the opportunity with subpar performances in both batting and bowling in the early stages against India. “We lost the batting battle in the first ten overs, and the bowling was equally poor. We need to ensure we improve in those areas,” Simmons remarked. “Our focus must be on developing a stronger batting strategy in the initial ten overs. The middle and lower orders have been performing well, so it falls on our top-order batsmen to set the tone in those first 10 to 15 overs.”

In the previous game in Dubai, Bangladesh stumbled to 35 for 5 by the ninth over. Soumya Sarkar was dismissed in Mohammad Shami’s opening over, and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto was caught by Virat Kohli at cover in the second over. Tanzid Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz also fell quickly, with Mushfiqur Rahim departing without scoring.

Simmons emphasized the need for the openers to quickly evaluate the pitch conditions. He believes Bangladesh should take cues from the high-scoring matches in the tournament, particularly Australia’s successful chase of 352 runs against England. That match occurred in Lahore, while Bangladesh will face New Zealand in Rawalpindi, the first game at that venue for this tournament. “This ground is known for high scores. We observed the scoring in Lahore yesterday. We are targeting 300 or more here,” Simmons stated. “In our last five matches, we’ve managed to reach 300 runs a couple of times. So we certainly have the potential. Although our last performance began poorly, we still managed to score 200 [231]. If we start well, reaching 300 is achievable.”

Bangladesh faces a familiar foe in New Zealand, having encountered them more than any other team in bilateral cricket since 2015. However, Simmons noted that the atmosphere of this match will differ from those encounters. “Every game in this tournament is a pressure match. These are the top eight teams globally, and we should expect every game to be competitive. New Zealand is playing well, but tomorrow is a fresh challenge. We need to ensure they don’t perform at their best,” he mentioned.

New Zealand triumphed convincingly in their opening match against Pakistan, and a victory here would secure their spot in the semifinals. Their captain, Mitchell Santner, expressed that his batters’ recent form has instilled a lot of confidence within the team. “The tri-series [against Pakistan and South Africa] was an excellent preparation for our players to spend time in the middle. Throughout every game we’ve played, different players have taken the lead at various stages, which is particularly gratifying.

“The guys drew a lot of confidence from that leading into the match against Pakistan, and now here against Bangladesh. However, it’s like a reset; the surface is different and so is the opponent. But I believe the planning, training, and preparation have all been productive,” he added.

Bangladesh is currently assessing Mahmudullah’s fitness status, as he missed the last game due to hamstring issues incurred during training. He practiced batting in the nets in Rawalpindi ahead of the match against New Zealand.
Simmons also hopes the team’s previous success in Rawalpindi, where they achieved a 2-0 Test series victory over Pakistan last year, will serve as motivation. “I hope that experience does inspire the team. Winning in Pakistan is no small feat, so I trust it will have a positive influence on their mindset regarding this venue.”

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