Bangladesh batting let the team down in Zimbabwe despite record haul, says Nahid Rana

Bangladesh pacer Nahid Rana has pointed to the batting unit as the primary reason behind the team's 25-run defeat to Zimbabwe in the series-opening ODI at the Harare Sports Club on Monday, July 6, despite himself claiming the best bowling figures ever recorded by a Bangladeshi in the format's history.

The right-arm quick ended with figures of 6 for 21 from 10 overs, including two maidens, eclipsing Mashrafe Mortaza's 6 for 26 against Kenya in 2006 to set a new national ODI record. His spell had Bangladesh on the brink of victory when Zimbabwe crashed to 70 for 8, but Richard Ngarava and Newman Nyamhuri's counter-attacking 63-run partnership for the ninth wicket pushed the hosts to 141. Bangladesh, needing 142 to win on a pitch that continued to offer seam movement throughout, were bowled out for 116 in 33.1 overs, handing Zimbabwe a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

"I think we started well bowling-wise, but when it came to batting we couldn't do well and if we hadn't lost back to back wickets and put on a good partnership, result could've been different today," Rana said as quoted by Cricbuzz.

Nahid Rana sets Bangladesh ODI bowling record with 6 for 21

The Bangladesh fast bowler also reflected on the decisive ninth-wicket stand, saying the bowling unit gave away more runs than they should have during that phase.

"They had a partnership going for them for the last (second last wicket), if I had taken that wicket earlier then they would have been restricted for less, it would have been better for us, I felt our bowlers bowled a bit loose at that time," Rana added.

Reflecting on his own performance, the paceman acknowledged that despite the record-setting spell, the team result was what mattered most.

"Of course I always enjoy my bowling, and when I feel it's my day I try to make full use of it and help my team win, I couldn't do it today (help team win). If our bowlers had broken that partnership then the result could have been different today," Rana said.

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Rana, who was rested for the one-off Test against Zimbabwe that Bangladesh lost by an innings and 85 runs at the same venue, also addressed his absence from the longer format, clarifying it was part of a structured workload management plan.

"I wouldn't say I missed being out of the lone Test as it was down to my workload management, that time I was preparing for the upcoming one-day series," Rana said as quoted by Cricbuzz.

Bangladesh will look to level the three-match ODI series when they face Zimbabwe in the second game at the Harare Sports Club on Thursday, July 9.