Rana continues to go from strength to strength

Bangladesh pace sensation Nahid Rana continues to go from strength to strength as his latest heroics inspired his side to an 86-run win (Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method) over Australia and a 1-0 lead in the three-match One Day International series in Mirpur on Tuesday.

Asked to bat first, the Tigers posted a competitive 284/8 riding on comeback man Mosaddek Hossain's brilliant unbeaten 70-ball 86 and half centuries from Najmul Hossain Shanto (67) and Tanzid Hasan Tamim (54).

In reply, the Aussies managed 191/9 in 42.2 overs before lightning and subsequently rain had the final say at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, eventually giving the home side a convincing victory - Bangladesh's first against the opposition in 50-over cricket in 21 years. 

Nahid led the way for the hosts with his fiery 4/41, accounting for the scalps of senior statesmen Josh Inglis (19) and Alex Carey (47), both out caught behind, before returning to dismiss Liam Scott and Xavier Bartlett.

"First of all Alhamdulilah, I was able to perform and contribute for the team so Alhamdulilah, feeling good," the right-arm quick told T Sports after the game.

"Target in the next two matches will be the same as today, how to gift my team a match-winning performance and how much I am able to help my team with my skills, so the plan will be the same in the next two games, to give a good performance for the team. If I can execute then Alhamdulilah if not then I will try to learn the lessons and move forward," he said. 

The tall speedster has already bagged two five-wicket hauls each having played a dozen matches apiece in Tests and ODIs but did not have any regrets after missing out on his fifth five-for on Tuesday.

"No I don't have any regrets, what was in my rizq (provision), I got that Alhamdulilah, what is in your rizq, you will get that, what is not in your rizq, you won't get that, so Alhamdulilah I tried to help the team, execution was good today, I will try to continue it in future," he noted.

Regarding his send-off to Australia interim captain Inglis, the 23-year old said, "It happens in cricket, in the heat of the moment, it wasn't that big an incident, it was normal, everyone was telling me to calm down and just do my job, I was just trying to do my job, what my team required from me, I was just trying to deliver that, obviously a lot goes on in the back of the mind, but at the end of the day the most important thing is that the team wants a match-winning performance from me or what I am able to do for the team, that always goes on in my head."

He added, "Actually I haven't talked with them (Australia) that much, I don't think or notice about these things, I always try to stay busy with what I have to do and how to improve myself."

The Chapainawabganj lad was looking forward to the rest of the series.

"We shouldn't say anything in advance, obviously they are a big team, whoever plays good cricket will win, we played well today so we won, we will try to take forward the confidence in the next game, and maintain the consistency," he concluded.