Bangladesh squared the series with a thrilling 34-run win over England in an ill-tempered match
What a cracking game that was, with multiple twists, a sensational atmosphere and a bit of needle. The decider on Wednesday is going to be some match. Thanks for your company; bye!
The captain Mashrafe Mortaza is the Man of the Match “I just slogged, man! Luckily it helped the team. I’m more happy that I got some wickets.”
Here comes Jos Buttler “We were a bit tentative in our batting. We bowled fantastically well early on and 240 was very attainable. I was disappointed with the way they celebrated when I was out. It’s an emotional game, we’re grown men and I was just a bit disappointed.”
The captain Mortaza had a sensational game. He gave Bangladesh something to work with by thrashing 44 from 29 balls batting at No9, and then he took four for 29 with the ball.
It kicked off a little bit during the post-match handshakes. Stokes had strong words with someone, and Buttler looked like he was trying to determine once and for all whether looks can actually kill. I can’t wait for the decider on Wednesday. In fact, I can barely wait for the post-match interviews today.
The captain Mortaza completes a brilliant personal performance with the final wicket. Ball slapped it high to deep cover, where Nasir Hossain took a good catch.
44th over: England 203-9 (target 239; Rashid 32, Ball 28)The quick bowler Taskin comes back into the attack. His second spell put Bangladesh on the brink of victory, with the wickets of Bairstow, Buttler and Woakes. Ball, who is batting superbly, chips a slower ball down the ground for four and edges the next ball to the boundary as well! England need 36 from 36 balls.
43rd over: England 193-9 (target 239; Rashid 31, Ball 19) Ball edges Shakib onto the knee of the keeper Mushfiqur, who would have needed Alan Knottish reactions to take the catch. England’s last pair are putting up an admirable fight. Ball slog-sweeps four more in an over that goes for 11 runs.
42nd over: England 182-9 (target 239; Rashid 29, Ball 11) Ball clumps Shafiul for four, and then makes room to blaze another over extra cover. That was a great shot, which almost went for six. England need 57 from 48 balls for a crazy victory.
41st over: England 173-9 (target 239; Rashid 29, Ball 3) A beautifully defiant stroke from Rashid, who makes room to drive a handsome six over extra cover off Shakib.
40th over: England 162-9 (target 239; Rashid 18. Ball 2)
39th over: England 159-9 (target 239; Rashid 17, Ball 0)
Nearly done. Willey heaves impatiently across the line at the offspinner Mosaddek and is plumb LBW.
38th over: England 154-8 (target 239; Rashid 12, Willey 9)“Willey’s body language is awe-inspiring,” says Ian Copestake. “He is loving every tortuous dot ball and not missing hitting sixes at all.”
37th over: England 153-8 (target 239; Rashid 11, Willey 9) After another entirely forgettable over of zeroes and ones, Nasir Hossain ends with superb figures of 10-1-29-1. England need 86 from 13 overs.
36th over: England 150-8 (target 239; Rashid 9, Willey 8) Two from Mortaza’s over. England are in no hurry to finish this game, despite the obvious futility of their position.
35th over: England 148-8 (target 239; Rashid 8, Willey 7) The required rate is above six an over for the first time. This shouldn’t take long now.
34th over: England 146-8 (target 239; Rashid 7, Willey 6) Willey pulls viciously for four off Mortaza, a stroke that contains not one iota of nonsense.
33rd over: England 141-8 (target 239; Rashid 6, Willey 2) The deciding match will be played in Chittagong on Wednesday. Rashid and Willey are dragging this game out but you are strongly advised not to get your hopes up.
32nd over: England 140-8 (target 239; Rashid 5, Willey 2) The required run-rate is not an issue for England; the loss of eight wickets is, and you’d expect this to be over pretty soon. Jos Buttler’s post-match interview will be interesting.
31st over: England 138-8 (target 239; Rashid 4, Willey 2)
30th over: England 136-8 (target 239; Rashid 4, Willey 1) Willey survives a first-ball review for LBW. The ball from Taskin pitched fractionally outside leg. For all the talk of spin, six of the eight wickets have fallen to the quick bowlers.
“If Buttler is banned who would captain the side?” says Phil Rhodes. “Only Vince has any captaincy experience but he is spot is far from settled.” Stokes.
Eight down, two to go. Taskin, who has bowled a wonderful, matchwinning second spell, gets one to nip away and take Woakes’s outside edge on the way through to Mushfiqur.
29th over: England 132-7 (target 239; Woakes 7, Rashid 3)“Only English cricket would have someone as preternaturally gifted as Buttler and not move mountains to get him working in the Test side,” says Kieron Shaw. “Odd myths have built up around his Test career too. He averaged 55.00 over the first 8 of his 15 Test matches (series vs India, WI and NZ). People forget that for starters. And they forget it because he then committed the cardinal sin of having a bad Ashes series (15.25), so now the collective memory is of a man who proved himself “unsuited to the Test arena”. (He did also have a dreadful follow-up v Pakistan in the UAE, admittedly, but it was sort of irrelevant; the narrative had been hard-baked against Australia.)
“We were happier with that revisionist version of the truth. It confirmed our ancient belief system that fancy Dans are just too much for Test cricket. Yes, he’s the most breathtakingly gifted batsman in the country, and that’s precisely why his early Test successes must never have happened. Also because he is a wicketkeeper, and it’s against the law to consider having two of them in the same Test team apparently.”
28th over: England 130-7 (target 239; Woakes 6, Rashid 2) Buttler’s noggin went completely there. Dominic Cork says it was Mahmudullah who he went for. Bangladesh celebrated wildly, and Mortaza punched the air in the general vicinity of Buttler. Whether Buttler had reason to be angry or not, he’ll be in big trouble for that. He might even get banned for the deciding ODI.
Buttler survives a big LBW appeal after walking across to Taskin. Mortaza has reviewed it. I think this will be really close. He was a long way down but I don’t think height will be an issue. He’s out! Buttler has gone, and the wild celebrations of the Bangladesh players show what an important wicket it is.
Buttler is furious about something, and tries to get at one of the Bangladesh players. The umpires had to stand in his way. Buttler was really angry, visibly swearing, and he’ll be in serious trouble for that. You have to wonder what was said, mind you, as he is normally such a placid character. We’ll be hearing plenty more about that if and when Bangladesh wrap up victory.
28th over: England 123-6 (target 239; Buttler 57, Woakes 1) So, England need 116 from 22 overs, and they need Jos Buttler to get most of them. He has looked in a different class to every other batsman in this series.
England are in big trouble now. Moeen slices an attempted leg-side hoick over extra cover, where Shakib takes a brilliant running catch.
27th over: England 120-5 (target 239; Buttler 55, Ali 4) Another sharp over from Taskin. Buttler is beaten by some more extra bounce, and then a short delivery deflects off Moeen’s hip for four leg-byes.
26th over: England 112-5 (target 239; Buttler 54, Ali 1) Buttler times Nasir through the leg side for four to reach a masterful fifty from 48 balls.
25th over: England 105-5 (target 239; Buttler 48, Ali 0) The new batsman Moeen chases a wide one and is beaten. “That’s the Moeen Ali waft,” says Nasser Hussain. He’s the most elegant wafter in the game.
24th over: England 105-5 (target 239; Buttler 48, Ali 0) The new batsman Moeen chases a wide one and is beaten. “That’s the Moeen Ali waft,” says Nasser Hussain. He’s the most elegant wafter in the game.
Taskin strikes with the third ball of a new spell! Bairstow threw his hands at a wide delivery that lifted and zipped off the edge before being caught above his head by the keeper Mushfiqur. That was a fine delivery; it really exploded from a fullish length.
23rd over: England 104-4 (target 239; Bairstow 35, Buttler 47) This game has see-sawed so much that it would be silly to assume England will cruise to victory from here. Bangladesh really need the wicket of Buttler, however, because he is playing brilliantly.
22nd over: England 101-4 (target 239; Bairstow 34, Buttler 45)
21st over: England 96-4 (target 239; Bairstow 33, Buttler 41) This is a bit of a quiet period, with England milking ones and twos and Bangladesh hoping for an unforced error. This has been such a smart partnership from Bairstow and Buttler.
20th over: England 92-4 (target 239; Bairstow 30, Buttler 40) Buttler misses an attempted flick through midwicket off Shafiul. “The great thing about this England lot now is the opposition basically know they have to bowl them out to win,” says Phil Harrison. “They will never, ever bat 50 overs with this line up and not get whatever they’re set. And yeah, Jos must make it work in Tests. He’s too extraordinary not to. Gilchrist was still waiting for his debut at the same age.”
19th over: England 88-4 (target 239; Bairstow 28, Buttler 38) Taskin (2-0-19-0) is replaced by the offspinner Nasir Hossain. Bairstow is beaten on the inside by a delivery that seems to shave the off stump without dislodging the bails. Four singles from the over.
18th over: England 84-4 (target 239; Bairstow 26, Buttler 36) The run-rate is nothing for England to worry about; they need 155 from 32 overs.
17th over: England 82-4 (target 239; Bairstow 25, Buttler 35) Bairstow, who was run out on Friday, survives a referral after a direct hit from point. This time his blistering speed saved him. Buttler then hits three fours in four balls off Taskin - two pulls and an astonishing, wristy flick-pull through midwicket. His calculated counter-attack has changed the mood of the match. I’m really surprised Mortaza isn’t using spin at one end.
16th over: England 67-4 (target 239; Bairstow 24, Buttler 22) A drinks break, and then two singles from Shafiul’s over. This is turning into a fascinating match.
15th over: England 65-4 (target 239; Bairstow 23, Buttler 21) It’s pace from both ends, with Taskin replacing Shakib. Bairstow is playing a good supporting role, working singles off most deliveries to give the strike back to Buttler, who is seeing it like a planet.
14th over: England 61-4 (target 239; Bairstow 21, Buttler 19) Shafiul Islam replaces Mortaza and zips his first ball past Buttler’s outside edge. Buttler is walking down the track so often, a tactic that brings four when he slams a pull through midwicket. This is a good, intelligent fightback by Bairstow and Buttler. Saying which, Buttler has a close shave when a pick-up shot lands fractionally short of the diving Tamim on the leg-side boundary.
Buttler continues to attack, however, and plays a stunning on-the-walk slap through extra cover for four off the final delivery of the over. He is an astonishing talent. Sod convention, red-ball experience and everything else; surely there has to be a place for him in Test cricket.
13th over: England 50-4 (target 239; Bairstow 21, Buttler 9) Bairstow hustles a sweep round the corner for four off Shakib, only the third boundary of the innings.
12th over: England 42-4 (target 239; Bairstow 15, Buttler 8) Buttler’s assertiveness has changed the mood slightly, and some good running from both men has brought 11 runs from the last two overs.
11th over: England 38-4 (target 239; Bairstow 12, Buttler 7) Shakib continues into a sixth over. Bangladesh know that if they get Buttler early, they will almost certainly win the match. There is much excitement from the crowd when a reverse sweep ends up in the hands of backward point, but replays confirmed it was a bump ball. Buttler has started aggressively in an attempt to reverse the momentum, walking down the track at every opportunity.
10th over: England 31-4 (target 239; Bairstow 6, Buttler 5) Buttler, as if in disgust at what has gone before, walks down the track and times his first ball through square leg for four.
Stokes has been in superb form with the bat in ODIs. A matchwinning 117 not out here would confirm his arrival as a serious one-day batsman. It will be fascinating to watch how each England batsman copes with this extreme pressure: Roy, Vince and Duckett all looked like their brains were melting. And now Stokes has failed as welll! He whips around a full, straight delivery from Mortaza and is cleaned up for a duck; that’s another really poor stroke. This is astonishing stuff from Bangladesh, and particularly their captain.
9th over: England 25-3 (target 239; Bairstow 6, Stokes 0) For lovers of nostalgia, it’s a rare treat to see England’s batsmen subside under pressure. I’m getting misty eyed for the days of Mark Dekker and David Brain.
8th over: England 24-3 (target 239; Bairstow 5, Stokes 0) What an exhilarating half-hour this has been. Wonderful stuff.
So much for death by spin: Mortaza has his second wicket! Roy, who’d gone 20 balls without a boundary, heaved around an off-cutter and was plumb LBW. This is brilliant stuff from Bangladesh and, it has to be said, a weirdly frazzled batting performance from England.
7th over: England 18-2 (target 239; Roy 10, Bairstow 2) The biggest problem for England is that most of Shakib’s deliveries are skidding on, and then suddenly one will explode off the pitch. I’m not sure I fancy their chances in this game. Bairstow, pushing forward, edges wide of slip for a couple.
6th over: England 15-2 (target 239; Roy 9, Bairstow 0) The crowd have played a big part in this start, and at the moment England look overwhelmed. Roy takes another dodgy single and is just home as the throw flies over the stumps, although he may have injured himself in the process. This is a terrific test for England’s ODI batsmen, who have been used to smashing bowling attacks willy nilly for the last 18 months.
5th over: England 14-2 (target 239; Roy 8, Bairstow 0) This is fascinating stuff. Shakib has two slips for the new batsman Bairstow, who defends his first ball. Lovely over from Shakib.
It is happening. Again. England, on the subcontinent, suffering a slow death. Duckett is bowled for a duck by a beautiful delivery from Shakib that turns through the gate to hit the top of the stumps. It was an expansive drive from Duckett, a risky stroke at this stage, but it was also a gorgeous bit of bowling.
4th over: England 13-1 (target 239; Roy 6, Duckett 0) Vince, sad to say, oozed impermanence in that innings. Ben Duckett is the new batsman. The atmosphere is fantastic; even a wide from Mortaza brings a huge cheer when Mushfiqur dives to his right to claim it.
Vince’s dismal innings comes to an end when he tries to drive an outswinger from Mortaza and slices it straight to backward point.
3rd over: England 11-0 (target 239; Roy 6, Vince 5) After angling a succession of deliveries into Roy, Shakib spits a beauty past his outside edge. Roy survives the resulting stumping referral; his back foot was out of his crease at one stage but he dragged it back in time. Vince then slices a loose drive just over the head of backward point for four. England are all over the show at the moment.
2nd over: England 6-0 (target 239; Roy 5, Vince 1) It’s pace at the other end, with the captain Mortaza sharing the new ball. The pitch looks really tired, with even the new ball barely bouncing above knee height, and there is already a sense of panic in England’s batting. Vince takes a daft single to midwicket, is sent back by Roy and only survives because the throw bounces wide of the stumps. He was miles short of his crease.
1st over: England 4-0 (target 239; Roy 4, Vince 0) I was going to say that England would want to get off to a fast start against the seamers, but the left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan is opening the bowling. I like this move, especially to Roy - and there’s a huge LBW appeal first ball! Roy was beaten by a delivery that zipped on to hit him in front of middle. Aleem Dar said not out, and Mortaza decided not to review. It was the bounce that saved Roy. An excellent start from Shakib, and a very nervous one for Roy.
Has anyone read the Jonathan Trott book? Is it as good as it looks?
Hello. A target of 239 looks straightforward in 2016, but this should be a tricky chase for England on a turning pitch. As Dan said, a lot depends on whether there is dew and it becomes harder for the spinners to grip the ball. Let’s get it on, readers.
So Bangladesh have a small chance. That eighth wicket partnership of 69 was key after Woakes and Willey put them under immense pressure at the top. England are favourites from here, especially if there’s dew. There’s also rain expected so Duckworth Lewis is worth considering.
Rob Smyth will guide you through the run-chase. Bye!
50th over: Bangladesh 238-8 (Nasir 27, Shafiul 0) Final over then and Nasir hammers the first ball to mid-off for a single, which gives the big-hitter the strike. He can only dig his first ball of the over out for one to backward point though. Nasir goes over the top of cover where it plugs for a couple then whips to deep midwicket for the same. Mashrafe is run out off the penultimate ball and the last is a dot. Good final over from Woakes and England will need 239 to win.
A failed bye to the keeper.
49th over: Bangladesh 232-7 (Nasir 22, Mashrafe 43) Ball to bowl the penultimate over. The first two balls are back of a length and excellent; the third less so. It’s full and wide of off, and Nasir carves it expertly through backward point for four. There’s very little wrong with the fourth but it too goes to the ropes anyway, Nasir leaning back and guiding it down past Buttler.
48th over: Bangladesh 223-7 (Nasir 13, Mashrafe 43) Woakes can’t quite find his length when going for the yorker but he’s mixing up his length gloriously. Just four from his first five balls, all scrapped and slashed in an ungainly manner, then another full-toss outside off is only carved away for two by Mortaza. The 50 partnership is up.
“How well do England have to play, and does Buttler have to captain, before Morgan’s place is in jeopardy, d’you reckon?” asks Robert Wolf Petersen. “Seems to me there could come a point where the management couldn’t justify restoring him to the side, especially if Duckett excels.
47th over: Bangladesh 217-7 (Nasir 12, Mashrafe 38) Ball replaces Woakes, I imagine to see how Mashrafe deals with the extra pace and bounce. This is risky as the ball could fly off the bat. Two hurried runs from the first then he’ll be disappointed to have only got one with a flat-bat smash down the ground. Nasir drives square through point for two more then takes a nudged single down the ground. Just seven from the over, well bowled Ball.
46th over: Bangladesh 210-7 (Nasir 9, Mashrafe 34) This is good stuff from Willey: bowling wide of off as the batsman looks to slog to leg. He pushes it a bit too far second ball though, conceding a wide. How long before they decide to introduce free hits for those, eh? Six more for Mashrafe, top edging a wild swing at a slower ball but somehow hitting it hard enough that it creeps over the mid-on rope! He’s dragging his side towards a respectable, if not defendable total, here. He nails a powerful drive up and just over mid-off for four more. This is doing nasty things to Willey’s figures. There were two more runs between those two hits and another wide follows. 15 from an eight-ball over.
45th over: Bangladesh 195-7 (Nasir 9, Mashrafe 21) Also returning is Willey’s opening partner, Chris Woakes. Moeen is probably done then with excellent figures of 9-0-39-0. 64% of Woakes’ deliveries today have been short and it’s worked brilliantly for him. That opening spell put Bangladesh under enormous pressure and they’ve never really recovered. Mashrafe gets four with a strange shot, ducking out the way but throwing the bat anyway and Bairstow misfields on the deep midwicket boundary. Two more hammered back down the ground with a straight pull and this time Bairstow does well to cut it off.
44th over: Bangladesh 187-7 (Nasir 8, Mashrafe 14) With Rashid done, Willey comes back after opening the bowling with six overs on the bounce. Mashrafe guides a slower ball away through cover and just a couple of feet wide of the fielder with a shot he wasn’t really committed to. Nasir then gets two with a hoick to deep midwicket but is nearly run out by a brilliant sliding collect and throw from Roy in the deep - had he hit it was out but it narrowly missed. Just five off that over.
43rd over: Bangladesh 182-7 (Nasir 4, Mashrafe 13) Down the track comes the captain and he nails Moeen’s first ball out of the slot, down the ground and just over the long-off rope for the first
maximum six of the day. Four dots and then he goes again, lifting another full ball high over mid-on for six more. They’ll need a few more of them but it’s a good over for Bangladesh.
42nd over: Bangladesh 170-7 (Nasir 4, Mashrafe 1) Rashid into his last over then. After a poor start he’s settled well and really tied Bangladesh down. He removes Mosaddek after a wide and a two, exposing the tail. England will want Bangladesh all out under 200 now; Rashid finishes with fine figures of two for 53.
This is horrible. Rashid gets his release all wrong and drags it down short; Mosaddek launches an ugly heave at it and Moeen proves the only competent part of his wicket, safely holding his third catch at cow corner.
41st over: Bangladesh 166-6 (Nasir 4, Mosaddek 27) Time for powerplay No3. Surely there’s a high risk now of Bangladesh not batting out their innings given Mashrafe is the next man in? Moeen gets a bit of turn and bounce that loops up off Nasir’s glove and leaves the batsman clueless as to where the ball ends up. A misfield off the last ball gifts Nasir two.
40th over: Bangladesh 163-6 (Nasir 2, Mosaddek 26) This is excellent to see: Mosaddek is batting without a helmet, or even a cap, against the spinners. I think if I played cricket any more I’d bat in a cap. There’s something unflinchingly cool about that, probably thanks to Viv. Mahmadullah then gets a fairly fortunate four, looking to sweep fine but instead top-edging over square-leg. The sweep proves his downfall though, as Rashid finally gets him for an excellent 75 from 88. Nasir is the new man and he creams his first ball for an elegant two to deep extra, much to the crowd’s delight.
It was a straight one out the back of the hand from Rashid, he hasn’t hit it and he’s absolutely plum.
Given out and Mahmadullah began walking off, but turned around to review at the dressing room’s behest. Is he allowed to do that?
39th over: Bangladesh 156-5 (Mahmadullah 71, Mosaddek 25) Six balls, two runs. Mo has none for 24 from seven overs, which is outstanding.
38th over: Bangladesh 154-5 (Mahmadullah 70, Mosaddek 24) After an expensive over from Stokes, Adil Rashid is back from t’other end. I did think Rashid was unlucky to miss out on the man of the match award last time given he bowled absolutely beautifully. And speaking of absolute beauty,
here’s Marion Cotillard,
Mosaddek drives sweetly for two through cover, Willey’s excellent fielding saving two. Rashid drops short though and gets slog-swept through midwicket for four. Buttler and Rashid then collaborate to waste England’s review
This is a stupid review, he’s clearly hit the leather off the thing. Given not out initially and it doesn’t take long to review.
37th over: Bangladesh 148-5 (Mahmadullah 70, Mosaddek 18) Now the runs are flowing again: Mahmadullah paddles one fine and only six inches below Buttler’s outstretched glove, but down to the fine-leg rope it goes.
Here’s Guy Hornsby. “Traveling back to the smoke on the train from Manchester with the OBO for company and thinking what a prospect Jake Ball is. I saw him at the Lords Test v Pakistan & he could’ve got a five-fer if he’d had any luck at all. It’s tempered by the desperately sad news on Mark Wood. Have so much time for that lad, and given I’m planning a trip to India that’ll swing by the warm-up in Mumbai, it’s gutting he won’t be there, pantomime horse and all. You have to wonder about his career now.”
36th over: Bangladesh 142-5 (Mahmadullah 65, Mosaddek 17) The other point to make is how Mahmadullah is the only batsman to have played the pull shot with any kind of control. Mosaddek gets consecutive boundaries: the first with a gorgeous cover drive on the up, the second with a deliberate thick outside edge to third man. Maybe I was a bit harsh on him earlier. Then this is remarkable: the crowd go absolutely mad when Stokes oversteps and Bangladesh get a free-hit. Which is, of course, a miserable law that shouldn’t exist. They only get one from it anyway.
“Perhaps the Lions can encourage a few more suspensions for the All Blacks by placing as many disabled portaloos as possible in their path,” HONKS that man Copestake.
35th over: Bangladesh 130-5 (Mahmadullah 63, Mosaddek 8) First sighting of the reverse-sweep from Mahmadullah. In light of the struggles of all the other batsmen, this is a fine innings not just because of the runs but the strike rate of 77-odd. It’s far superior to any other batsman who’s lasted any amount of time.
34th over: Bangladesh 127-5 (Mahmadullah 61, Mosaddek 7) A good diving stop from Moeen at fine-leg saves two leg-byes. His fielding has improved enormously in this series.
In light of the ECB’s utterly ridiculous, draconian punishment of Durham*, Lee Smith sends a link to this petition.
33rd over: Bangladesh 124-5 (Mahmadullah 60, Mosaddek 7) Runs! Four of them for Mosaddek who turns a straight one from Mo off his pads and just between keeper and leg-slip and down to fine-leg. A monstrous seven from the over and that’s drinks.
“Hi Dan.” Hi, Robin Hazlehurst! “When you say ‘the Lions v New Zealand 3rds would be a cracking contest’ I think you may have missed out the ‘U-15s’ that you need between Zealand and 3rds. 58 points though.”
32nd over: Bangladesh 117-5 (Mahmadullah 59, Mosaddek 1) One from nine, Mosaddek unfurls a gorgeous, wristy cover drive. He sends fresh air whistling to the fence but, sadly, gets nowhere near the ball. He is getting mullered by Stokes out there. It’s a maiden but you almost feel it would be better for Bangladesh if he got out and allowed the superior batsman Hossain to come in.
31st over: Bangladesh 117-5 (Mahmadullah 59, Mosaddek 1) Buttler gives Mo a leg-slip and a slip, scenting blood and a quick end to this innings. Moeen takes U2’s Italia 90 advice.
30th over: Bangladesh 115-5 (Mahmadullah 58, Mosaddek 0) If you take the score after 30 overs and double it Bangladesh don’t have enough. Just one from the over so here’s Ian Copestake:
“As often, and in contrast to football commentary, the boys in the box have been coming out with some wonderful expressions. Rob Key’s ‘handcuffed to a ghost’ has been followed by some South African descriptive poetry describing a tired Jake Ball as ‘chewing on it right now.’”
29th over: Bangladesh 114-5 (Mahmadullah 57, Mosaddek 0) It feels now like it really is on Mahmadullah to ensure his side aren’t bowled out for nowhere near enough given the length of their tail. In a flash, Moeen is through his over for the concession of just one run.
28th over: Bangladesh 113-5 (Mahmadullah 56) Short from Stokes and Mahmadullah pulls to the man at deep miwicket for two. He gets another single but there’s nowt there for Shakib... and he goes to the last ball for three from 14, trying to leave it but giving Buttler his 100th ODI catch instead.
“Morning, Dan.” Morning, James Higgott. “I’m [James, not me] following the cricket while out on a walk through sunny south London. I thought other readers might appreciate this photo of Beckenham Cemetery’s most famous resident.
Here lies WG Grace, doctor and cricketer https://t.co/hH5NKNpE5ipic.twitter.com/DnAdl8K7Ys
The short ball strikes again. In truth this was a poor one, swinging down the leg side but it brushes the glove on its way through and Shakib’s misery comes to an end.
27th over: Bangladesh 110-4 (Mahmadullah 53, Shakib 3) A double change: Moeen is on - is he someone who needs to justify his place in the ODI side? He’s getting more turn that Rashid straight away and beats Mahmadullah outside his off-stump. Then an awful bit of fielding from sub Billings means England miss an easy run-out: Shakib set off and turned back too slowly, but Billings’ throw from short cover was miles behind Buttler.
@DanLucas86 which bodes well for the Lions tour
26th over: Bangladesh 107-4 (Mahmadullah 51, Shakib 2) Change of bowling: Stokes comes on and Mahmadullah immediately brings up his 50 off 51 balls with a thick outside edge down to third man for four. Just one more off the over.
South Africa, who have dropped Dale Steyn, have whipping boys Australia 130 for eight.
25th over: Bangladesh 102-4 (Mahmadullah 46, Shakib 2) A lovely paddle sweep from Mahmadullah deserves four on aesthetic grounds; alas for him, poor old Jake Ball chases it down and reels it in, all to save one. A few balls later Rashid sends down a leg-side wide, complete with faux appeal for a strangle. That brings up the 100 for Bangladesh.
24th over: Bangladesh 96-4 (Mahmadullah 42, Shakib 1) Ball was struggling in the heat in his last over but Buttler wants him to have a go at Shakib, which again makes sense. I’m liking Buttler the captain a lot. The new batsman gets off the mark and out of the firing line straight away with a hurried nudge into the leg side. Once he’s back on, he very nearly plays on, getting an inside edge just past off-stump with a lazy defensive prod.
“It’s possible that Mahomed Chohan is a Saffie sports fan,” reckons Bob O’Hara, “so he might appreciate seeing the cricket score, as an antidote to the rugby. Whether by email or otherwise.”
23rd over: Bangladesh 93-4 (Mahmadullah 41, Shakib 0) The new man is Shakib and he’ll have a view from the non-striker’s end initially. Given he’s a left-hander we can, as Nick Knight says, expect to see Moeen into the attack soon. Mahmadullah twice slashes through point and runs hard for two, the latter aided by a Willey fumble in the deep. SNIGGER. Better that though, from Rashid.
22nd over: Bangladesh 89-4 (Mahmadullah 37) The sweat stains on Jake Ball’s shirt are quite something. Two singles from the first two balls and another from the fifth bring up the 50 partnership, but it’s broken immediately thereafter! Good pace from the bowler and an even better catch.
This is a corker of a catch. Ball digs it in and Mushfiqur pulls with little control towards long leg. Mo comes haring in at speed and takes the catch tumbling forward. He throws it away in glee and well he might.
21st over: Bangladesh 86-3 (Mahmadullah 34, Mushfiqur 21) Another full-toss from Rashid but he gets away with it as it dies on Mushifiqur and he mistimes his heave. When he does get his length right there is turn for him but there’s too much full stuff and these two can pick him off with singles to mid-off. Four of ‘em from the over. In weatherwatch news, dark clouds are circling the stadium.
20th over: Bangladesh 82-3 (Mahmadullah 32, Mushfiqur 19) These two are cooking now: Ball gives Mahmadullah the slow bouncer and the batsman is on it like... um... a better OBOer on an analogy? Anywho it’s up and over midwicket, bouncing 10 yards or so inside the rope and going for four. Eight off the over and Bangldesh’s difficult start is officially over.
19th over: Bangladesh 74-3 (Mahmadullah 25, Mushfiqur 18) Too wide, too full and thrashed to the extra-cover boundary by Mahmadullah. Rashid hasn’t been great so far, although he is starting to find just a wee bit of spin now. Mahmadullah then brings out the paddle sweep for, I think, the first time for a single. The final ball is a full-toss that’s swatted by Mushfiqur through mid-on, where the two fielders contrive to trip over each other on the boundary and fail to prevent the boundary. That’s Bangladesh’s best over, going as it does for 11.
Here’s Will Macpherson’s full story on poor ol’ Mark Wood.
Related: Mark Wood set for more ankle surgery and will miss England’s tour of India
18th over: Bangladesh 63-3 (Mahmadullah 19, Mushfiqur 13) Thanks to my girlfriend Liz, who has just brought me a cup of tea. You don’t get this when you’re OBOing from the office, DO YOU, ALL MY COLLEAGUES? Four off the over, including a leg-bye, and this partnership has shuffled quietly and efficiently to 24 off 28.
17th over: Bangladesh 59-3 (Mahmadullah 17, Mushfiqur 12) Mahmadullah picks up two with a big heave off Rashid, which is well fielded just inside the rope saving a couple. These two look a lot more comfortable against spin, it has to be said. Six fuss-free runs from the over, the last of which is Mushfiqur’s 4,000th in ODI cricket. Well done him.
16th over: Bangladesh 53-3 (Mahmadullah 13, Mushfiqur 10) Ball’s height is troubling Bangladesh. He’s getting noticeably more bounce than either Woakes or Willey and it’s creating uncertainty in the batsmen’s minds. A single is followed by four dots, before Mushfiqur cuts a short, wide one for a couple. And that’s time for drinks.
15th over: Bangladesh 50-3 (Mahmadullah 12, Mushfiqur 8) A noticeable change in pace straight away from Rashid. I thought he looked a bit too fast in his first over but he’s dropped it noticeably - something that worked beautifully for him at home against Sri Lanka. A two and a one, all tow Mahmadullah and neither of any great note, bring up the team 50.
14th over: Bangladesh 47-3 (Mahmadullah 9, Mushfiqur 8) Jake Ball is on second change and strikes immediately, ending Sabbir’s misery. Mushfiqur is the new batsman and he gets lucky straight away, edging through the vacant third slip region for four. He moves to eight from two with a much better shot, sensually caressing a full ball outside off through extra cover for four more.
From the bad news department*: Mark Wood has been ruled out of the India series with injury.
The extra pace does for Sabbir’s frankly awful innings. A bit shorter, a bit quicker and he gets an inside edge on to the stumps trying to defend.
13th over: Bangladesh 39-2 (Mahmadullah 9, Sabbir 3) Finally we have a bowling change and it’s straight to spin on the cracked pitch: Adil Rashid gets a go. Not a great deal of turn for him with the slightly newer ball and Sabbir misses out on a short one, going for a huge heave and not getting hold of it.
Mahomed Chohan writes: “Please give score update on south Africa cricket match live now by email on the guardian sports website.thank you.”
12th over: Bangladesh 37-2 (Mahmadullah 8, Sabbir 2) Short from Willey and Mahmadullah’s leading edge loops and drops just wide of Roy at backward point! With Sabbir struggling, playing and missing, so badly against the ball angled across him I might be tempted to get a fly-slip in. But then I’m not an international cricket captain. A short ball is called the first wide - and only the second extra - of the innings on height. The bowler is blowing in the heat now but it’s another excellent over.
11th over: Bangladesh 33-2 (Mahmadullah 6, Sabbir 1) Aleem Dar signals for the second powerplay, so Woakes and Buttler decide there’s no need to change anything. After Mahmadullah cuts a single, Sabbir gives it the charge and misses entirely, promptng a grin from Woakes. Finally, he gets a sharp run to short midwicket - one off 11 for him now. One more single maintains the run rate of exactly three.
10th over: Bangladesh 30-2 (Mahmadullah 4, Sabbir 0) David Willey also gets a fifth over and why not? A maiden and that is a bloody brilliant powerplay from England, Woakes, Willey and cap’n Jos in particular.
9th over: Bangladesh 30-2 (Mahmadullah 4, Sabbir 0) Nope Woakes wants another over and it pays off. Without another run added to the total, Tamim goes. It’s great captaincy from Buttler: he put the fielder there for exactly that shot. Mahmadullah is off the mark with a first-ball four, in the air but whizzing into a gap and away to the fence through midwicket.
The pressure tells. Short again from Woakes and Tamim pops it straight to Moeen at short midwicket.
8th over: Bangladesh 26-1 (Tamim 14, Sabbir 0) Still no bowling change, which I guess is fair enough as they’ve both been excellent. I imagine both will be given a rest after this one from Willey though. Just one off the over.
7th over: Bangladesh 25-1 (Tamim 13, Sabbir 0) Out? No it’s a leg-bye - Kayes tries to pull a short one and it looks for a moment as though it’s looped up off his glove for Buttler to take a good catch diving forward, but the umpire rules, correctly, that it came off the hip. Not to worry though as, after another single to the increasingly settled Tamim, the in-form man goes without adding to his score.
My reckoning of 260 being a good score might be nonsense, of course.
Bangladesh batting first , 320-330 minimum against this huge English batting line up #BANvENG
This is a big wicket for England. Short again from Woakes and Kayes top-edges the pull to Willey at deep square.
6th over: Bangladesh 23-0 (Tamim 12, Kayes 11) Less swing for Willey now so a change in line and a change in field: straighter and out goes slip for Kayes. After a few singles, Tamim gets his first boundary with a beaut of a straight drive, back past the bowler for four all along the ground. He’s technically dropped next ball as he look to slash it over cover and the diving backward-point fielder - Roy, I think - just gets a fingertip on it.
5th over: Bangladesh 15-0 (Tamim 5, Kayes 10) Fed up with this already, Tamim changes his bat after the first ball of the over. He looks nervous and tries to bring out the big shots but it’s not coming off for him. I reckon 260 might be a good score today; a slower ball beats Kayes’ attempted cut and misses off by a whisker. From the last ball though, Kayes gets a much-needed boundary; swivelling nicely on the back foot and pulling a length ball through midwicket for four.
4th over: Bangladesh 9-0 (Tamim 4, Kayes 5) First ball Tamim gives Willey the charge. The bowler drags it back though and has him in all kinds of trouble with the short ball; he escapes with a single. Kayes then has a big swish and a miss at one that swings away from outside off, before a thick inside edge just misses the stumps and brings another scrambled one.
“Morning, Dan.” Morning, Ian Copestake. “I thoroughly enjoyed the first match and thought England’s effort in those conditions was outstanding. I even missed the denouement as I had to translate a text about medieval images of Nuremburg. I will not make be making that mistake today though.”
3rd over: Bangladesh 7-0 (Tamim 3, Kayes 4) This is a very good start from England. Cutters, bowled into the pitch and a good off-stump line mean Bangladesh’s batsmen can’t time their drives and keep picking out the fielders on the edge of the circle. Just a single from the over once again.
Apparently heavy showers are forecast for later.
2nd over: Bangladesh 6-0 (Tamim 2, Kayes 4) From t’other end it’s Yorkshire’s Poached David Willey. The cheers for just a single to Tamim are quite something: earlier there was a short piece on Ian Botham where he said he thought the Edgbaston crowd in 1981 intimidated the Australians and helped him to his five-fer, so you have to think England deserve a bit more credit for winning in front of this kind of crowd on Friday. Steve Sewell agrees:
“I can’t believe England are not getting all the credit they deserve after last win, debut performance, reaching a great run total, displaying great fielding ability, inspired bowling , great captain and vice caps display but most of all when it got sticky great team display.”
1st over: Bangladesh 5-0 (Tamim 1, Kayes 4) Crikey, talk about an aggressive start from England: Woakes begins with an in-swinging yorker that Tamim nearly falls over in keeping out. As Nass points out on the telly, it’s a very cracked pitch today and the ball is keeping low already. Tamim is off the mark with a nudge to mid-on for one, then the in-form Kayes drives his first ball beautifully through cover for four. That was glorious.
We are about to begin. Do feel free to spend your Sunday morning getting in touch.
Or post, if you don’t have time now.
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An email! “You’d have to say England were a wee bit lucky to win the other day,” reckons Dean Kinsella. “Bangladesh were in control for the vast majority of the game but for a few inspired moments from Ball and Rash. The momentum swung around and Bangladesh’s comparitive inexperience led to total collapse and an England victory. I fancy Bangladesh to come back very strongly today.”
They were reliant on a couple of bits of brilliance: Stokes’ hundred, Buttler’s blitz and Ball & Rashid suddenly ripping through Bangladesh at the end, but I’m not sure that counts as “lucky”.
Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Sabbir Rahman, Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim†, Shakib Al Hasan, Nasir Hossain,Mosaddek Hossain, Mashrafe Mortaza*, Shafiul Islam, Taskin Ahmed
Buttler:“It looks another good wicket, but we think it will skid on. We keep the same change. We played well the other day, hard to leave anybody out.”
Mashrafe says he would also have had a bowl. Bangladesh have one change: their captain tells Nasser Hussain that all-rounder and off-spinner Nasir Hossain comes in for Masharraf.
Jos Buttler calls heads, wins it and England will field first. That’s a change of tack from Friday. Jonny Bairstow’s hip problem isn’t a problem so England are unchanged.
.@DanLucas86@guardian_sport how can we be sure that isn't Smyth? https://t.co/OLPgcHGbWk
Jonny Bairstow is undergoing a late fitness test. Sam Billings was seen keeping in the warm-up, although the Telegraph’s Nick Hoult tweeted earlier that Buttler will keep in the match.
Sorry, Rob.
I've replaced Smyth as my co-pilot on the @guardian_sport OBO for #BANvENGhttps://t.co/MPPZXBjUiWpic.twitter.com/bwA3BEhqNi
There is a 56% chance of rain in Dhaka tonight so it’s anyone’s guess. However according to Guardian Sources (if it’s good enough for Sky etc) the covers are coming off.
Morning/afternoon/evening/whatever it is where you are, folks. This is new ground, in a way, for England. Traditionally Bangladesh tours have been throwaways; series that exist only to create the caveat: “yes but x of his wickets/runs were against Bangladesh.” It is a series for averages to be boosted and captains to be rested. And yet, there is a reason I wasn’t that interested when my dad said he sat near Eoin Morgan* in a restaurant the other night.
Win tonight/this morning/afternoon/whatever it is where you are and England become the first ODI side in two years and seven series to win a bilateral series in Bangladesh. Well, the second after Bangladesh, but you know what I mean. We probably couldn’t call this a historic series win - even though someone bloody will - but it would be a hugely impressive coup for Jos Buttler’s men.
Hello. Dan will be here shortly. Here’s Will Macpherson’s report from England’s dramatic win in the first ODI on Friday:
Seldom has such rigmarole come attached to a cricket tour but the sport is thankfully underway and, if the first ODI is anything to go by, all the effort justified. The Sher-e-Bangla Stadium veered wildly from zoo to library as 25,000 people screamed and gasped through every Bangladeshi high and low, but by the end England had silenced – and indeed emptied – the ground with a remarkable fightback, inspired by Ben Stokes, their centurion, but led by Jake Ball, who sealed the 21-run win and became the first man to take five wickets on ODI debut for England.
Less than an hour earlier England were down and out and the crowd rapturous. England’s 309 necessitated Bangladesh’s highest chase at this stadium but they were cruising. Imrul Kayes already had his second century in four days against the tourists and had shared 118 with Shakib-al-Hasan. Both looked imperious and only 39 were required from 52 balls.
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