‘Go for the kill’ attitude makes the difference

Clinical and ruthless. That's how the Bangladesh team looked yesterday in Centurion.

 At no point of the game the Tigers looked down and out as they had their opponents dumbfounded in their own backyard by securing a dominating nine-wicket win, with 141 balls to spare, to seal the maiden series away to South Africa.

 Oftentimes, after taking control of the game at one stage, Bangladesh go on to lose the momentum, eventually succumbing to defeats. But yesterday was totally different. The Tigers bounced back with three quick wickets after South Africa had a good start, only to never leave them a shred of chance to get back into the game.

 So what changed?

 Bangladesh skipper Tamim said it was their attitude that made the difference.       

 "What we discussed during our team huddle was that we must give our everything out in the field today. To be honest, when they got a good start and we were able to scalp two quick wickets, I had only one thing in my mind and that was to go for the kill," Tamim revealed his game-plan at the post-match press conference.

 "I thought that no matter what we will be aggressive and I'll ask Taskin [Ahmed] to bowl as fast as he can and try and get wickets," Tamim talked about the period when Taskin Ahmed, yesterday's player-of-the-match for his five-wicket haul, bowled with such gusto that took South Africa from none for 46 to five for 83 in no time.

 Even after bundling out South Africa for their lowest-ever total against Bangladesh, Tamim was not to be tamed down as his message to players even during a chase of a paltry 155-run target was 'to be as aggressive as possible.'