Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma took game away from us: Mashrafe Mortaza
Melbourne, March 19 (IANS) Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza on Thursday said that excellent batting display by India's Suresh Raina and Rohit Sharma took the game away from them. India registered an emphatic 109-run victory over Bangladesh to enter the semi-final of the World Cup. The 31-year-old skipper said their team made a couple of mistakes which helped India take advantage.
"Sadly, Suresh and Rohit took the game from us. I have to say that Rohit was brilliant today," Mortaza said. "Second, we couldn't make any partnership in the middle, and third, we kept losing wickets at regular intervals,"
He also argued that the match could have been more competitive had Rohit Sharma been given out when he was batting in the 90s.
"It could have been. Against India we always know that we have to take wickets, otherwise it is going to be very difficult. At that stage if he got out, Rohit, it would be great, but I think I can't say anything in here, but you all have seen what's going on there," Mortaza said.
We have batted really well throughout the tournament: Mortaza
Bangladesh's Tamim Iqbal (25) struck four fluent boundaries at the start of the innings but got out cheaply.
Asked if he could have been more responsible in such big matches, a defensive Mortaza said: "Well, someone has to attack. When you are chasing 300, someone has to attack. He was fine today, he was very intent but unfortunately got out again after getting set".
The skipper said his cricketers were taking home lot of positives from the mega event which will help them in matches slated to be played later in the year.
"I think except today batters have batted really well throughout this tournament and hopefully they'll continue because a very tough year is ahead for us. And I think the confidence we got, hopefully it will continue," he said.
"It was a brilliant tournament for us. Obviously the way we played today, it wasn't great, but most of the players are in our side from 2008, we haven't played any cricket in Australia, so it was a really (tough) ask for us.
"But the way the boys measured up to the wicket and condition, I feel very proud as the captain of this team, and hopefully our boys will take it in the next series," he added.
It will be an exciting semi-final in Sydney: Mortaza
The right-arm medium pacer said India are playing some good cricket and it will be a challenge for other teams facing them.
"The way India is playing now, it will be a challenge for the other teams, but as I said before, I don't know who's going to come up. No one knows that. After Australia and Pakistan match, everyone will know who's going to face India, but as I said, it will be an exciting (semi final) match in Sydney," he said.
India are slated to play their semi final match on March 26 against the winner of Friday's Australia-Pakistan quarter-final clash.