Hridoy Defends Conservative Chase as Bangladesh Prioritise Win Over Run-Rate

Towhid Hridoy has hit back at criticism surrounding Bangladesh’s measured run chase in their Asia Cup opener against Hong Kong, saying the team prioritised a safe victory over boosting their net run-rate.

Bangladesh chased down a modest 144-run target in 17.4 overs at a rate of 8.28 runs per over, winning with 14 balls to spare. However, questions were raised during the post-match press conference about whether the team missed an opportunity to bolster their net run-rate—an important factor in tournament progression—by not finishing the game more quickly.

Speaking to the media, Hridoy defended the approach. "We wanted to ensure that the match doesn't slip away from us," he said. "We tried to end the game early but I couldn't connect the ball that well. I think the result is more important than finishing one or two overs earlier. You [the media] would have had something to say had we lost today."

With Afghanistan having set a high net run-rate (NRR) of 4.70 earlier in the competition, Bangladesh would have needed to complete the chase in under 12 overs to surpass them. However, captain Litton Das and Hridoy both indicated that the pitch and conditions at the Abu Dhabi venue were not conducive to an ultra-aggressive approach.

"The pitch didn’t support consistent big hitting, and the size of the ground also made it difficult to clear the ropes regularly," Litton said during the presentation ceremony.

Hridoy echoed the sentiment, adding that the focus was on "smart cricket" and building partnerships rather than taking unnecessary risks. "We could have finished the game earlier but we stuck to the demands of the situation. Our mentality is to always win. We could have finished two or three overs earlier, but we could have lost one or two more wickets."

He continued: "We tried to hit more boundaries, but it didn't happen. We want to beat Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, so run-rate isn't what we are worried about at this stage. We don't want to complicate matters so early in the tournament."

While Bangladesh’s NRR may not have received a significant boost, they secured a comfortable win and, according to Hridoy, laid a solid foundation for tougher matches ahead.

Related Stories:

• Litton leads the way as Bangladesh overcome Hong Kong

• How Martin Coetzee fell in love with Hong Kong cricket