Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto voiced his disappointment at the missed opportunity to secure victory in the first Test against Sri Lanka, despite an early advantage that saw the visitors struggling at 57-5 in the first-morning session.
However, Sri Lanka staged a remarkable recovery, led by skipper Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis, ultimately clinching victory by a massive 328-run margin at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.
Responding to queries about whether Bangladesh relaxed after Sri Lanka's initial collapse, Shanto dismissed the notion, emphasizing that there was no room for relaxation. He acknowledged the missed opportunity but commended the effort of his team, noting that everyone gave their utmost.
Reflecting on the match, Shanto praised Sri Lanka's batting performance, particularly crediting Dhananjaya and Kamindu for their resilience. Despite a strong start by Bangladesh's seam bowlers, Shanto highlighted the need to improve their performance with the new ball.
Expressing the team's commitment to learning from their mistakes, Shanto acknowledged the need for extensive work to rectify the errors made in the first Test. He admitted to his injudicious shot and emphasized the importance of rectifying such errors in the upcoming matches.
Shanto also commented on Liton Das' dismissal, describing it as a misjudgment and expressing confidence that the team would learn from such experiences to perform better in the future.
Turning to Sri Lanka's performance, Shanto acknowledged the formidable partnership between Kamindu Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva, who showcased their batting prowess by scoring centuries in both innings. Despite the setback, Shanto remained optimistic about Bangladesh's prospects in the next Test, highlighting the need for a strong comeback.
Shanto praised Mominul Haque for his outstanding innings amidst Bangladesh's batting collapse in the second innings, emphasizing his experience and contribution to the team. He expressed hope for continued success from Haque and underscored the importance of support from other players to improve the team's performance in future matches.
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