Debutant Ball scripts remarkable England win
Jake Ball claimed five wickets on his One-Day International debut after Ben Stokes scored his maiden century in the format as England came from nowhere to snatch a 21-run win over Bangladesh in the first of three ODIs at Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Mirpur on Friday (October 7).
Stokes hit 101 off 100 balls to guide England to 309 for 8 but it did not seem nearly good enough as Imrul Kayes, the opening batsman, struck a century and shared a 118-run stand with Shakib Al Hasan to take Bangladesh to the doorstep of a major win.
With Bangladesh needing 39 off 51 balls with six wickets in hand, Ball, who finished with 5 for 51, removed Shakib for a 55-ball 79 and then bowled Mosaddek Hossain off the next ball to help England get back into the game.
Hope was over for Bangladesh when Adil Rashid, who returned 4 for 49, dragged Kayes out of his crease with a wide delivery for Jos Buttler, leading England in Eoin Morgan’s absence, to complete a stumping. Kayes fell for 112 in 119 balls with Bangladesh still 30 runs adrift with six overs left.
Bangladesh lost its last six wickets for just 17 runs as it was bowled out for 288 in 47.5 overs, giving England a 1-0 lead in three-match series.
Kayes struck 11 fours and two sixes and paired with Shakib after Ball and Rashid landed some early blows to leave Bangladesh at 153 for 4.
Earlier, Stokes and Buttler, who scored 63 off 38 balls, set up England's total as it recovered from 63 for 4 to post a competitive score after electing to bat.
Stokes, who hit eight fours and four sixes, was dismissed just after completing his century when a miscued pull landed in the hands of Sabbir Rahman at deep mid-wicket as Mashrafe Mortaza ended Stokes's onslaught.
Stokes, who was dropped twice by Mahmudullah and Mosharraf Hossain earlier on, received support from Ben Duckett, the debutant, as the duo put on 153 runs for the fourth wicket. Duckett, batting at No. 3, showed composure with 60 off 78 balls, including six boundaries.
England slowed down after the departures of Duckett and Stokes but Buttler kept up the momentum, taking his side past the 300-run mark.
The series continues at the same venue with the second game on Sunday.
