Bangladesh could have chased harder - Vettori

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori has said that Bangladesh could have shown more resolve in chasing a mammoth target of 336 in the second one-day international in Napier yesterday. Bangladesh failed to build on a solid opening stand of 63, losing three wickets for the addition of only five runs and went on the defensive for the rest of the chase. Bangladesh ended on 181 for 6 before rain forced an early end to the match, handing New Zealand a 102-run victory by the D/L method, and the series 2-0.

"There was probably a little bit of frustration about the style of play," Vettori said. "We thought Bangladesh would chase a little bit harder - whenever you chase 330 [sic] you have to take a few risks. If you don't, you stall and that's what happened."

Bangladesh coach Jamie Siddons said the quick loss of wickets, including that of captain Mohammad Ashraful, was rather unfortunate as it threw the team's plans off balance.

"We had a plan in mind and we were going along according to that plan but we lost three wickets for five runs and the plan changed," Siddons said. "The batsmen really did not get going after that and we probably lost our biggest strokemakers."

Siddons also backed his batsmen to go for their strokes, despite several instances of experienced players throwing away their wickets in the first two matches. He said a lot of improvement was needed on the bowling front, after each of the New Zealand batsmen enjoyed a good hit in the middle, in particular Jacob Oram ,who clubbed 55 off 31 balls in the slog overs.

"If the ball is not swinging or spinning, which it really didn't today apart from the early overs where I think we bowled really well today, then it is a problem," he said. "The pace is also not there."

Despite the heavy defeat, Siddons was willing to be patient. "These are young players and it's going to take time. We are going to suffer some pain, there's no way round it."

The other topic of discussion was Ashraful's controversial dismissal, after he spooned a low catch to Ross Taylor at cover. Taylor claimed the catch while Ashraful stood his ground, convinced that it was a bump ball and that prompted the umpires to confer. Vettori backed Taylor's honesty and the umpires' decision.

"You saw Ross' reaction," Vettori said. "He left it in the umpires hands and they made the call. From what I've heard it was the right call."

The third and final one-day international will be played in Queenstown on December 31.