Mortaza helps Bangladesh level series

Skipper Mashrafe Mortaza turned in an excellent all-round performance as Bangladesh defeated England by 34 runs in the second One-Day International to square the three-match series 1-1.

At the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka on Sunday (October 9), Mortaza smashed 44 off 29 deliveries with two fours and three sixes, then followed it up with 4 for 29 as England, chasing Bangladesh’s 238 for 8, was bowled out for 204 in 44.4 overs. Mahmudullah had top-scored for Bangladesh, with a polished 75.

Mortaza did the early damage with the ball for Bangladesh, dismissing Jason Roy, James Vince and Ben Stokes in his first spell. With Shakib Al Hasan cleaning up Ben Duckett for a duck, England was tottering at 26 for 4 when Jos Buttler, the skipper, linked up with Jonny Bairstow.

Bairstow and Buttler put on 79 for the fifth wicket to resuscitate the England innings before Taskin Ahmed accounted for both right-hand batsmen. Bairstow was caught behind by Mushfiqur Rahim while Buttler was dismissed leg before on review. Buttler, the England captain, had smashed Taskin for three of his seven fours in one over before the paceman bounced back to finish with figures of 3 for 47.

In between, off-spinner Nasir Hossain had Moeen Ali brilliantly caught by Shakib, and when Chris Woakes and David Willey went cheaply, Bangladesh appeared to have it all under control with England on 159 for 9.

Jake Ball, the No. 11, had other ideas as he smashed five fours in a 22-ball 28, dominating a last-wicket stand of 45 with Adil Rashid (33 not out) to raise hopes of a dramatic England victory. Mortaza returned to snuff out the resistance, having Ball caught in the deep to round off a brilliant night for him.

Earlier, after being put in to bat, Bangladesh found itself in early trouble with Woakes striking twice in his opening spell.

Woakes, who finished with 2 for 40, removed openers Imrul Kayes (11) and Tamim Iqbal (14) in successive overs to leave the host at 26 for 2. Ball kept up the pressure when he bowled Sabbir Rahman for three.

Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur put on 50 for the fourth wicket to steady the innings before Ball struck again when Mushfiqur top-edged the paceman to fine-leg, where Moeen took a superb catch.

Shakib departed for three, gloving a delivery from Ben Stokes down the leg-side to Buttler behind the stumps, but Mahmudullah and Mosaddek Hossain again lifted their side from a precarious 113 for 5 with a 48-run sixth-wicket stand before Rashid struck.

The leg-spinner trapped Mahmudullah leg-before to end a fine innings, which came off 88 balls with six fours, then had Mosaddek (29) caught by Moeen in his next over to derail Bangladesh's innings again before Mortaza’s final flourish and Nasir’s late push took it to a competitive total.

The third and decisive ODI will be played in Chittagong on Wednesday.