Mashrafe takes 50th ODI catchBangladesh limited-over captain Mashrafe bin Mortaza reached yet another milestone as he grabbed his 50th ODI catch. Currently, he holds the record for taking the highest number of catches as a Bangladesh fielder in ODIs. Mashrafe touched the 50-catch milestone in his 162nd match. Mahmudullah and Shakib al Hasan have both taken 39 catches but the former achieved it in 129 matches as opposed to the latter’s 161. Mashrafe took another catch during the Afro-Asia Cup match when he grasped the catch of AB de Villiers off the bowling of Mohammad Rafique.
Yet another catch dropped off Taskin’s bowlingBangladesh fast bowler Taskin Ahmed can consider himself unlucky as yet another catch was dropped off his bowling. Catches have been dropped quite a few times off his bowling in recent matches. This time around, Mahmudullah grassed Ben Stokes' catch when he was batting on 69 inside the 31st over. The dropped opportunity proved to be costly for the hosts as Stokes scored his maiden ODI hundred and finished his innings on 101 off 100 deliveries.
Bangladesh fast bowler Taskin Ahmed reacts
DHAKA TRIBUNEMosharraf’s sloppy fieldingBangladesh have made significant improvements in the fielding department in the last two years or so. But it was hardly evident in the first ODI against England. Bangladesh drooped three catches at crucial junctures. First, Mosharraf Hossain dropped Stokes in the 32nd over off Mashrafe’s bowling. Stoke charged down the wicket and got a top-edge that went high in the air but Mosharraf dropped him at deep extra cover. Mosharraf also dropped a well-set Ben Duckett in the 35th over at backward square leg when the debutant swept hard from outside leg stump. But a diving Mosharraf failed to grab the ball as yet another chance went begging.
Bangladesh fielder Mosharraf Hossain makes a mess of one of his two dropped catches
DHAKA TRIBUNEReverse sweep strategyEngland batsmen played the Bangladesh spin bowling attack in an impressive manner in the first ODI. England were in some sort of trouble when they lost three quick wickets. Then left-hander Duckett and all-rounder Stokes took the game away from Bangladesh’s grip. They played fluently against the slow bowlers. Both Stokes and Duckett executed the reverse sweep on numerous occasions, scoring plenty of runs against the tweakers.
England centurion Ben Stokes executes a reverse sweep
DHAKA TRIBUNEButtler does it once againJos Buttler has been one of English cricket's key players, especially in the last 18 months or so. Buttler has played 78 ODIs for England so far with an eye-catching strike rate of 120 and on Friday, he played his natural game yet again. England were on the backfoot after losing three quick wickets for the addition of 63 runs. But the visitors continued to play positively and were heading towards a big total. And in the latter stages of the innings, Buttler played his part too. He played a superb captain’s knock of 63 off just 38 balls with three fours and four sixes. The stand-in skipper’s explosive innings ensured that the Three Lions would eventually cross the 300-run mark.
Bangladesh centurion Imrul Kayes looks to the heavens after reaching his second ODI hundred
DHAKA TRIBUNEImrul starts with a bangBangladesh opening batsman Imrul Kayes smashed a huge six off just the third ball of the innings. It was a length ball from Chris Woakes and Imrul, who smashed a hundred against the same opponent in the practice match a few days ago, picked it up nicely and hoicked it over the deep square leg region with free swing of the arms. The ball burst through an advertising banner positioned on the second floor before being retrieved by a supporter. At the other end, Tamim Iqbal was struggling but Imrul played positively and gave Bangladesh a good start.
England ODI debutant Jake Ball celebrates one of his five wickets
DHAKA TRIBUNEBall talks with the ballEngland fast bowler Jake Ball bowled superbly and took five wickets on his ODI debut. One by one, he dismissed Tamim, Sabbir Rahman, Shakib, Mosaddek Hossain and Taskin. Bangladesh were cruising to their target at one stage but Ball struck at regular intervals to guide his side to a 21-run victory and thus, a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Bangladesh fast bowler Taskin Ahmed reacts DHAKA TRIBUNEMosharraf’s sloppy fieldingBangladesh have made significant improvements in the fielding department in the last two years or so. But it was hardly evident in the first ODI against England. Bangladesh drooped three catches at crucial junctures. First, Mosharraf Hossain dropped Stokes in the 32nd over off Mashrafe’s bowling. Stoke charged down the wicket and got a top-edge that went high in the air but Mosharraf dropped him at deep extra cover. Mosharraf also dropped a well-set Ben Duckett in the 35th over at backward square leg when the debutant swept hard from outside leg stump. But a diving Mosharraf failed to grab the ball as yet another chance went begging.
Bangladesh fielder Mosharraf Hossain makes a mess of one of his two dropped catches DHAKA TRIBUNEReverse sweep strategyEngland batsmen played the Bangladesh spin bowling attack in an impressive manner in the first ODI. England were in some sort of trouble when they lost three quick wickets. Then left-hander Duckett and all-rounder Stokes took the game away from Bangladesh’s grip. They played fluently against the slow bowlers. Both Stokes and Duckett executed the reverse sweep on numerous occasions, scoring plenty of runs against the tweakers.
England centurion Ben Stokes executes a reverse sweep DHAKA TRIBUNEButtler does it once againJos Buttler has been one of English cricket's key players, especially in the last 18 months or so. Buttler has played 78 ODIs for England so far with an eye-catching strike rate of 120 and on Friday, he played his natural game yet again. England were on the backfoot after losing three quick wickets for the addition of 63 runs. But the visitors continued to play positively and were heading towards a big total. And in the latter stages of the innings, Buttler played his part too. He played a superb captain’s knock of 63 off just 38 balls with three fours and four sixes. The stand-in skipper’s explosive innings ensured that the Three Lions would eventually cross the 300-run mark.
Bangladesh centurion Imrul Kayes looks to the heavens after reaching his second ODI hundred DHAKA TRIBUNEImrul starts with a bangBangladesh opening batsman Imrul Kayes smashed a huge six off just the third ball of the innings. It was a length ball from Chris Woakes and Imrul, who smashed a hundred against the same opponent in the practice match a few days ago, picked it up nicely and hoicked it over the deep square leg region with free swing of the arms. The ball burst through an advertising banner positioned on the second floor before being retrieved by a supporter. At the other end, Tamim Iqbal was struggling but Imrul played positively and gave Bangladesh a good start.
England ODI debutant Jake Ball celebrates one of his five wickets DHAKA TRIBUNEBall talks with the ballEngland fast bowler Jake Ball bowled superbly and took five wickets on his ODI debut. One by one, he dismissed Tamim, Sabbir Rahman, Shakib, Mosaddek Hossain and Taskin. Bangladesh were cruising to their target at one stage but Ball struck at regular intervals to guide his side to a 21-run victory and thus, a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.