DHAKA, Jan 23: Bangladesh cricket captain Khaled Mashud Wednesday called for his batsmen to score more runs to match Pakistan’s firepower in the remaining two One-day Internationals.

“We cannot do well unless our top-order applies itself better,” said Mashud a day after his team crashed to a 49-run defeat in Tuesday’s opening match at Chittagong even after bowling Pakistan out for a meagre 202.

“We should learn to value our wickets and not play unnecessary shots.”

Bangladesh, thrashed by an innings in each of the two Tests on the tour, have everything to play for in the back-to-back one-dayers under lights here Thursday and Friday.

Mashud was happy with his team’s bowling effort, but rued the lack of application by the batsmen.

“I hope we don’t repeat mistakes. We could have won if the top five batsmen had got runs, but they came under pressure,” said Mashud, who was his side’s top-scorer with 54.

The wicket-keeper/batsman, however, had words of praise for young seamers Mohammad Sharif, 17, and Tareq Aziz, 18, who claimed three wickets each.

“Our fast bowlers give us a lot of hope for the future,” said Mashud.

Bangladesh’s Australian coach Trevor Chappell too praised the medium-pacers while having a dig at the top-order batsmen.

“It was nice to see the lower order batsmen put their heads down and bat for a while,” Chappell said. “It was a good example for the others who are known as batsmen.”

Pakistani captain Waqar Younis conceded his team had been given a fright at Chittagong.

“The thought of defeat came to my mind when we started badly. But Rashid Latif played well and helped us get a handy total,” Waqar said.

Rashid hit a career-best 79, ensuring Pakistan won and burying memories of the 62-run loss to Bangladesh in the 1999 World Cup in England.—AFP