Strauss - Batting let us down

England skipper oversees first ever loss to Bangladesh

Last updated: 10th July 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Strauss - Batting let us down

Strauss: disappointed with below-par display

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Andrew Strauss has demanded an immediate response from England after Bangladesh pulled off a shock win in the second match of the NatWest Series.

Set a target of 237 in Bristol, England slumped to a five-run defeat despite the efforts of Jonathan Trott, who was out for 94 in the final over.

The NatWest Series is now level at 1-1 ahead of the deciding match at Edgbaston on Monday.

Strauss admitted his side's performance had not been good enough and was especially critical of the batsmen.

"We weren't at the races today, it's as simple as that," he said.

Credit

"Our bowling was okay but our fielding was poor and our batting, chasing 237, was a particularly poor effort if I'm honest.

"We've only got ourselves to blame but we also have to give credit to Bangladesh for the way they defended that total. They were able to take wickets throughout the innings and keep the pressure on.

"They thoroughly deserved their victory but for us it's about going away, licking our wounds and making sure we don't repeat the same mistakes again on Monday."

England's cause was not helped by an injury to Ian Bell, who faces a spell on the sidelines after fracturing the fifth metatarsal of his left foot when falling awkwardly in the field.

Bell, who scored a match-winning 84 not out in the first game of the series, walked out to bat at number 11 despite his foot being in plaster.

With 10 required from the final over he joined Warwickshire team-mate Trott in the middle but it proved in vain as, after Trott had taken a pair of twos from Shafiul Islam's first two balls, he then edged behind to bring an end to the contest.

"Obviously we were one of our major bats down there," added Strauss. "But these things happen. We should have had enough batting and nous to get over the line."

Mortaza joy

Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza, whose side endd a winless streak dating back to last November, was delighted to finally taste victory once again.

"After 24 matches losing in a row, this dressing room had not really been happy," he said. "The dressing room is happy now.

"We have been working hard in the nets and we hoped that it would come.

"In the middle part of the innings we lost three or four wickets but apart from that we played very well."