Curran wants some success

Kevin Curran © Getty Images

Zimbabwe coach Kevin Curran admits his team will have to improve drastically after suffering a 45-run defeat in the opening game of their four-match one-day international series against Bangladesh.

The defeat means the home team have now lost 13 successive ODIs, including eight against the current opposition, leaving them without a victory since last August.

Speaking ahead of the second match at the Harare Sports Club on Tuesday, Curran was hoping his charges would learn from their opening defeat.

“It is vital that we win tomorrow’s game if we are to keep the series alive because if we don’t win tomorrow then we can’t win the series (unless the game is washed out),” he said.

“We have to make sure that we are up for it and play positive in all three departments.”

Looking back at Sunday’s defeat, Curran felt his team could have won the game had the fielders held on to catches and made the best of their opportunities.

“On Sunday we were almost okay in all departments but the biggest letdown was in both batting and bowling in the middle of the innings,” he added.

“Also we dropped (Shahriar) Nafees twice, the first chance was off the very first ball. I didn’t think it was a difficult chance and had we taken the wicket it would have set the tone for the Bangladesh innings.”