Mohammad Ashraful says he was not out, but New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori backed the umpires' decision to send him packing in a controversial incident during yesterday's ODI win.
The Bangladesh captain, who had thumped 70 off New Zealand at Eden Park on Boxing Day, was on three
when Ross Taylor took a low catch at cover. Ashraful stood his ground. Umpires Peter Parker and Tony Hill conferred before confirming the catch.
"I felt it was not out, but at the end of the day it was the umpires decision," Ashraful said last night.
Vettori, unsurprisingly, took the other tack.
"You saw Ross' reaction. He left it in the umpires hands and they made the call. From what I've heard it was the right call," Vettori said.
And Vettori confirmed there had been some needle late in the Bangladesh innings, after they had long given up any hope of chasing down New Zealand's imposing 335 for five.
"I think we were probably a little frustrated about the style of play going on," he said.
"We thought Bangladesh should have been chasing a little harder. If you're chasing 330 you have to take a few risks."
Vettori said the foot will be down hard to wrap up the series in Queenstown on Monday.
"We're expected to win 3-0. If we go there and get tripped up then this series is almost a disappointment for us. We have to go down and make our mark."
Bangladesh coach Jamie Siddons was philosophical about yesterday's heavy defeat.
"These are young players and it's going to take time. We are going to suffer some pain, there's no way round it," he said.
