“We weren’t able to exert pressure for long enough.” Tim Southee contemplates after Bangladesh defeated New Zealand.

Bangladesh overcame New Zealand in the first Test of the series, thanks to a brilliant bowling display in the fourth inning. For much of the match, they dominated the Tim Southee-led team, while the Kiwis were unable to form any kind of middle pair. The Bengal Tigers won the game by 160 runs, thanks in large part to Taijul Islam’s outstanding performances in both innings.

In his post-match reflection, Southee stated that the team’s inability to exert pressure for an extended period of time contributed to their defeat. Bangladesh’s bowlers were excellent with length and line, but New Zealand struggled to make an impact on a condition unfamiliar to most hitters. In addition, Southee praised captain Najmul Shanto for his century-scoring performance in the second inning, which saw the side score 338 runs thanks to solid knocks from Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Mushfiqur Rahim.

“You saw how the bowlers from Bangladesh were able to exert pressure for extended periods of time. We probably didn’t do it for long enough, but I believe we did it occasionally. Partnerships are constantly considered a batting unit. SNajmul Shanto, in my opinion, had a fantastic inning. With the state of the game, it was evidently quite timely.

“The bowlers from Bangladesh, in my opinion, bowled really accurately, and we know from their style and manner of bowling that it gets difficult to bat in this part of the world as the Test progresses. It has a propensity to take slightly more turns and slightly more unpredictable bounces. You only need a few alliances, Southee reportedly stated, according to ESPNcricinfo.

In addition, Tim Southee supported his players after the defeat, saying he believes they will grow from it and perform better in the final Test, which is scheduled to start on December 6. He also mentioned that since so many new players had entered, fatigue from competing in the ODI World Cup wasn’t a problem.