Bangladesh batters please stand up

On a slow wicket with inconsistent bounce, Bangladeshi batters failed miserably to adapt to the conditions at Mirpur during the opening T20I against South Africa on June 05, 2015.

It took South African bowlers only two overs to see the back of Bangladeshi openers in the first T20, with Tamim Iqbal lasting only four balls and Soumya Sarkar seven.

Tamim was caught behind to a shortish ball for five while Soumya perished to the bouncer after scoring only seven runs in the chase.

Bangladesh need a solid opening stand from Tamim and Soumya to put the pressure back on the Proteas bowlers in the second and last match of the T20I series on July 07, Tuesday.

When the opening batters fail to make their mark, the middle order looks all at sea trying to salvage the innings for Bangladesh.

Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Sabbir Rahman and Nasir Hossain are the recognizable batsmen in the ranks after the opening pair of Tamim and Soumya.

The first T20I saw how the middle-order of Bangladesh react to the loss of the openers early in the chase of South Africa's 148 on Sunday.

Unfortunately for Bangladesh, Shakib and co were outplayed by South Africa's bowlers, with JP Duminy and Aaron Phangiso calling all the shots with their spinning deliveries.

Duminy triggered the collapse by sending back Mushy for 17 as Sabbir, Nasir and Shakib were dismissed in three overs to leave Tigers reeling at 6 for 71 by the 14th over.

Although the pitch at Mirpur became more difficult to score in the evening, Bangladesh batsmen brought their own downfall by trying to hit each and every ball out of the park during the first T20I against the Proteas.

The procession never stopped after Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal (R) was dismissed in the very first over of their opening T20 International against South Africa at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday. Photo: Star

Leaving all the ego-issues aside, Tamim and co should learn from South Africa's T20I captain Faf du Plessis on how to construct an innings on a slow wicket with unpredictable bounce.

Faf became the highest scorer in T20I between South Africa and Bangladesh on Sunday when he remained unbeaten on 79 runs from 61 balls with eight boundaries to his name.

He did not go all gung-ho from ball one, and played sensibly according to the situation. Faf kept the score-board ticking with ones and twos and dispatched the loose delivery when the opportunity presented itself.

Bangladeshi batsmen must be wary of the South African bowlers after folding for 96 runs in the first T20 of the series.

Proteas bowling coach Charl Langeveldt intends to apply the same heat in the second game as the Proteas go in search of a series win.

"We need to be pretty aggressive; that's our game plan," Charl Langeveldt, who is on his first assignment as South Africa's bowling coach after succeeding Allan Donald last month, said.

"Normally when we come to the subcontinent, we try and use our aggression. That's why we play four fast bowlers."