Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto cited their lack of ability to form a big partnership as the reason for their five-wicket defeat to New Zealand in a Champions Trophy game that turned out to be ‘do or die’ contest at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium today.

The defeat that came after the six-wicket loss to India in the first match, ruined Bangladesh’s all prospect to play the semifinal.

“We needed two big partnerships (but that didn’t happen),” said a dejected Shanto after the match.

While partnership is considered as key to put on a big total on the board, Bangladesh’s highest partnership in the match was just 45. Shanto who promoted himself as opener after Soumya Sarkar paved the way for Mahmudullah Riyad and Tanzid Hasan Tamim formed this partnership in the opening stand.

Thereafter, they didn’t get any partnership worthy to keep New Zealand bowlers in pressure even though the wicket had no demons.

Shanto said, they didn’t bat well in the middle overs, which was another reason behind their downfall.

“We started well today. We lost too many wickets in the middle overs. We didn't bat properly,” Shanto said, admitting that the wicket was good to bat on.

“The wicket was good to bat on. We needed two big partnerships but we couldn’t do it,” he remarked.

Shanto showered his bowling department with enormous praise and reserved his special praise for youngster Nahid Rana, who troubled New Zealand batters with extreme pace.

“Nahid is brilliant. I am happy the way he bowled. The last two years the bowling unit has done well,” he added.

Bangladesh will take on Pakistan in their last game in Rawalpindi on Thursday. The match turned out to be inconsequential, given that Pakistan also made an exit from the semifinal race after conceding two defeats like Bangladesh.

But Shanto insisted, he wants to finish on high and therefore a victory against Pakistan is important for them.

“I think the game against Pakistan is an important game. It would be good to finish on a high. We need to improve as a batting and fielding side,” he concluded.