Mortaza stars as Bangladesh level series with tense win
In what turned out to be a day full of twists and turns, plots and sub-plots, Bangladesh put up a clinical performance to overcome a nervy England side by 34 runs in the second One-Day International (ODI) at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka on Sunday (October 9) to level the three-match One-Day International series 1-1.
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 scalps to also play decisive roles for the home side.
For a while, Jos Buttler (57) led from the front with an entertaining fifty 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 heist 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 was adjudged leg-before to Mortaza. The Surrey opener looked to play the short-arm jab, but missed it completely and was trapped in front of the stumps.
Mortaza continued to bowl a zestful spell and was rewarded with the scalp of Ben Stokes (0). England's talismanic all-rounder played all over a delivery that nipped back in slightly and could only hear the death rattle.
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.
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.
Bangladesh's bowlers mostly attacked the stumps and kept it simple. That, however, was in sharp contrast to England's pacers banging it short during the earlier innings. It has to be said that both were well thought-out tactics.
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 maneuver the field.
Mahmudullah also joined forces with Mosaddek Hossain (29) to share a promising stand of 48 before Rashid struck the decisive blow by dismissing the half-centurion leg-before. The veteran right-hander placed his belief in the review, but on replays, it projected that the impact was in line and the ball would knock over the off-stump. As a result, the on-field decision stayed.
Mosaddek followed Mahmudullah back to the pavilion and it was again a short delivery that led to his downfall, giving Rashid his second scalp. Mortaza and Nasir Hossain (27 not out) though, landed some powerful blows to ensure the home side would end up with a competitive score. The stand between the two was worth 69 off only 49 balls.
On a track that offered variable bounce, Bangladesh played with pluck and determination to level the series. The final game of the series will be played in Fatullah on October 12.
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.
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 scalps to also play decisive roles for the home side.
For a while, Jos Buttler (57) led from the front with an entertaining fifty 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 heist 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 was adjudged leg-before to Mortaza. The Surrey opener looked to play the short-arm jab, but missed it completely and was trapped in front of the stumps.
Mortaza continued to bowl a zestful spell and was rewarded with the scalp of Ben Stokes (0). England's talismanic all-rounder played all over a delivery that nipped back in slightly and could only hear the death rattle.
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.
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.
Bangladesh's bowlers mostly attacked the stumps and kept it simple. That, however, was in sharp contrast to England's pacers banging it short during the earlier innings. It has to be said that both were well thought-out tactics.
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 maneuver the field.
Mahmudullah also joined forces with Mosaddek Hossain (29) to share a promising stand of 48 before Rashid struck the decisive blow by dismissing the half-centurion leg-before. The veteran right-hander placed his belief in the review, but on replays, it projected that the impact was in line and the ball would knock over the off-stump. As a result, the on-field decision stayed.
Mosaddek followed Mahmudullah back to the pavilion and it was again a short delivery that led to his downfall, giving Rashid his second scalp. Mortaza and Nasir Hossain (27 not out) though, landed some powerful blows to ensure the home side would end up with a competitive score. The stand between the two was worth 69 off only 49 balls.
On a track that offered variable bounce, Bangladesh played with pluck and determination to level the series. The final game of the series will be played in Fatullah on October 12.
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.
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