Bangladesh put up a clinical performance to overcome England side and to win the second ODI by 34 runs at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka on Sunday (October 9) to level the three-match series. Mahrafe Mortaza starred with both bat and ball to secure the victory for the home side. The Bangladesh captain crunched a cameo of 44 and then took four wickets. Mahmudullah compiled a fine 75 while Taskin Ahmed bagged three wickets to also play decisive roles for the home side.
For a while, Jos Buttler (57) led from the front with an entertaining 50 and raised hopes of England crossing the finish line. However, once he was dismissed, they struggled to keep up with the mounting run-rate. Adil Rashid (33 not out) and Jake Ball (28) then threatened to pull off a miracle with a last-wicket stand of 45 but they had too much to do, as the visitors were bundled out for 204, chasing a target of 239.
Earlier, Mortaza ran through the heart of England's batting line-up to leave them perilously placed at 25 for 4. It all began in the fourth over, Mortaza tempted James Vince (5) to drive at a fuller length delivery, but the Hampshire batsman could only offer a simple chance to the backward point fielder. Shakib Al Hasan then got one to turn off the pitch to befuddle Ben Duckett and shatter the stumps. Jason Roy (13), known for playing a wide array of shots, didn't last long either, as he was adjudged leg-before to Mortaza.
Mortaza continued to bowl a zestful spell and was rewarded with the scalp of Ben Stokes (0). Buttler and Jonny Bairstow (35) then combined to share a vital stand of 80 for the fifth wicket. Buttler, in particular, looked in fine form. With a mix of aggression and deft touch, Buttler's innings was punctuated with some sparkling shots. Taskin broke the crucial stand by snuffing out Bairstow. The 27-year-old aimed to cut the seamer and edged it to Mushfiqur Rashim. The turning point of the game came when Buttler was dismissed leg-before to the 21-year-old fast bowler.
The wicket-keeper-batsman tried to unsettle Taskin by walking across the stumps, but was rapped on the pads. The loud appeal from the bowler was turned down. Bangladesh, however, reviewed the decision and HawkEye suggested that the impact was in line and would crash into middle and off-stump. The decision was rightly overturned and Buttler was given out.
There was also a bit of drama in the middle as Mahmudullah and Buttler had a heated exchange before the umpires pacified both the players. In the end, despite Rashid and Ball's best efforts, England slipped to a defeat.
England had started the match brilliantly with Chris Woakes and Jake Ball striking at regular intervals. The short delivery proved to be the central part to their fine efforts with the ball. It was Woakes who began the slide by nipping out both Imrul Kayes (11) and Tamim Iqbal (14). The 27 year-old allrounder mixed his lengths smartly. He then used the surprise short delivery to dislodge Kayes. England were jubilant after taking the scalp of Kayes, as the left-handed opener had crunched a noteworthy century in the first ODI. Woakes continued to leave an imprint on proceedings by bagging Tamim's wicket with another short ball. Just like his opening partner, Tamim, too, couldn't keep the pull stroke down and offered an easy catch to Moeen Ali positioned at short mid-wicket.
Ball, England's star performer in the first game, backed up Woakes by probing away with purpose. In his first over, the 25-year-old pacer nipped one back off the seam to induce Sabbir Rahman to chop it onto the stumps. Rahman paid the price for playing with an angled bat.
In an attempt to wrestle the initiative, Rahim also attempted the pull shot. However, just like his team-mates, the diminutive batsman skied the stroke to fine leg, where Moeen snaffled a fine diving catch to give Ball his second wicket. Shakib (3) arguably Bangladesh's best batsman, then gloved one to Buttler off Stokes. The left-handed batsman would consider himself a trifle unlucky as he was dismissed of a strangle down the leg-side.
At the other end, Mahmudullah continued to play a neat and orderly knock. He was the pivot around whom Bangladesh constructed their innings. Mahmudullah was able to ride on the bounce to cut and occasionally pull. He also opened the face of the bat and swept the spinners to manoeuvre the field.
Brief scores: Bangladesh 238/8 in 50 overs (Mahmudullah 75, Mashrafe Mortaza 44; Chris Woakes 2-40) beat England 204 in 44.4 overs (Jos Buttler 57, Jonny Bairstow 35; Mahrafe Mortaza 4-35) by 34 runs.
England beat Bangladesh in 1st ODI
Earlier in the first ODI Bangladesh collapsed to lose the first ODI against England by 21 runs on Friday. Chasing 310, Bangladesh lost way from 271/4 and were bundled out by 288. Jake Ball 5/51 did the damage for the visitors as his two wickets off two balls swung the game England’s way and Adil Rashid (4/49) scalped the danger man Imrul Kayes (112) to hammer the final nail in the coffin. It was Bangladesh’s game to lose as they were in complete control with the Shakib-al-Hasan-Kayes stand but the former’s wicket derailed the chase. Earlier, England rode on Ben Stokes ton and fifties from Ben Duckett and Jos Buttler to post an impressive 309/8. For Bangladesh, Mashrafe Mortaza, Shafiul Islam and Shakib picked two wickets each.
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Buttler involved in a verbal spat with Bangla players
England captain Jos Buttler was involved in an angry spat with Bangladesh players after he was out lbw for 57 following a review. Buttler said: “People always write about me being quietly-spoken and a soft guy but maybe you don’t know me as well as you think you do. I was a little disappointed in the fashion they celebrated. I don’t mind them celebrating a wicket but there’s no need to run in someone’s face and give me a bit of a send-off. I was disappointed to get out, the emotions were high, but that happens. Maybe in hindsight I could have just walked away but it is what it is.” Buttler was murmuring expletives while returning to the dressing room.
Ex-skipper Nasser Hussain, commentating for Sky, was sympathetic towards Buttler, saying: “In the heat of battle, these things happen. It’s all well and good sitting in an air-conditioned commentary box or at home but it’s 90 per cent humidity and 38 degrees out here. “Jos has kept all day and is trying to win a game and then someone gives him a send-off. He probably pushed the limit and went over the top but I’d rather have a captain like that who gives everything.”
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