Bangladesh's plan to charge 'occasional bowler' Phillips backfire

Dhaka, 28 Nov -Bangladesh's plan to put pressure on New Zealand's

premier bowlers by charging occasional bowler Glenn Phillips failed miserably as it led to their downfall in batting paradise at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today.

Off-spinner Phillips, literally a fifth bowler of New Zealand, who is playing his just second Test, claimed 4-37 to deny Bangladesh taking the advantage.
The hosts ended the day one on 310-9, a figure that could have been far better had they not given the wickets by charging Phillips, admitted opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy.

"He is lucky that he got wickets in bad deliveries. We played loose shots to be out," Joy who made team-high 86 admitted after the day one's game.

"There was an opportunity today but we squandered it. Almost everyone failed to carry on after making a good start. It's a matter of regret," he added.

After left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel broke through with the wicket of Zakir Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto played aggressively to put the New Zealand spinners on sword.
He hit Patel for three sixes and didn't even spare other two spinners Ish Sohdi and Phillips. As he was at his aggressive best, Bangladesh looked to post a big total in a pitch, ideal for batting.

Shanto was surprisingly undone by a full toss delivery of Phillips as he skied a catch to Kane Williamson in the deep. His dismissal indeed was key in Bangladesh's slide.

Phillips then took three more wickets to spark Bangladesh's collapse and registered his career best figure.

Joy defended their plan by saying: "He is an occasional bowler. If we don't charge him, he might put pressure on us which could give their main bowlers a chance to tighten the grip. So our plan was to make him disarray but unfortunately we got out playing bad shots."

"Shanto was batting the way he is used to bat. He played his natural game, according to his plan," he said.

But he is confident that Bangladeshi spinners will get more assistance from this pitch to make this total a healthy one.

"We have already 300 runs on the board, which is a positive thing. Our plan was to make to 350-380 but unfortunately we couldn't do it. We have some quality spinners who could extract more advantage from here and could make this total a match winning one. If we can bowl in right areas, it is possible to wrap up them in small total," he added.

But Joy was not happy with his innings as he rued missing the century.

"I certainly have the regret of missing the century. You can't be set in the wicket everyone. I missed it but I will try to make it up whenever I get the opportunity."