Oh! This young England team plays with spunk and spirit. In the 3rd ODI, the visitors yet again showed that they are now a force to reckon with in the limited-overs format as they overcame an energetic Bangladesh team to win the hard-fought series 2-1.
Vince, Duckett and Billings laid the platform with enterprising knocks. However, Duckett's wicket triggered a mini collapse, only for Chris Woakes and Ben Stokes to steer them home.
Stokes played with calmness and when needed, crunched a few lusty blows in the slog overs, while Woakes kept the ball mostly along the ground. It was a partnership that broke Bangladesh's fans hopes.
Bangladesh still would be proud of the way they fought throughout the match. In fact, they have performed creditably at home in the last few years, having won six ODI series in a row.
The duo of Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler calmed down the nerves in the England camp by combining eye-catching shots and pinching quick singles. However, Mortaza castled Buttler with a slower one to keep Bangladesh in the hunt. Buttler, arguably England's best batsman, aimed to slog a slower one from the Bangladesh captain but could only chop it onto the stumps.
The topsy-turvy third ODI has thrown up quite a few surprises. Moeen Ali, the England allrounder, spooned an easy catch to the mid-on fielder off Mortaza. The Bangladesh captain has been superb for the hosts in this series and might just help them to sneak in home.
Duckett, in his short career, has shown a penchant to essay cheeky scoops. However, this around, the shot turned out to be his undoing. The credit has to go to Mushfiqur, the wicket-keeper, for anticipating wonderfully well. As soon as Duckett shuffled across the stumps, Rahim moved to his right and then gobbled up the catch inches above the ground. The match is tantalizingly poised and it could turn out to be another of those humdingers.
Ben Duckett continued to impress. The Northamptonshire youngster crunched his second half-century of his fledgling career. It has been another sure-footed innings from the left-hander. He rotated the strike with singles and twos and when needed thumped the big shot.
Just in the nick of though, Shafiul castled Bairstow, with the right-handed batsman paying the price for attempting an ugly hoick.
After composing an entertaining fifty, Billings was dislodged by Mosaddek Hossain. It felt as if the aggressive batsman was getting frustrated. Eventually, he tried one shot too many and top-edged a sweep off Mosaddek Hossain to deep backward square leg. Bangladesh needed that wicket.
Sam Billings is certainly a batsman to watch out for. The right-hander from Kent blends orthodox shots with innovation in equal measure. In this innings, too, he cracked some powerful strokes, sprinkled with reverse sweeps to net in his maiden ODI fifty. He seems to have the required skills and temperament to make it big at the highest level.
Nasir Hossain eventually picked up the first scalp for Bangladesh. Vince aimed to nudge the offspinner into the on-side and missed it. The loud appeal for LBW was answered in the affirmative. It was clear that the batsman was hit in front of the stumps.
Billings, however, continued to play with bravado. He even swept Mortaza for a six over backward square leg.
Vince and Billings gave a good account of themselves in the early overs. Vince, in particular, checked in some fine drives. The ball is skidding onto the bat and that might help out England.
There was also a bit of drama in the middle as Billings bumped into Mortaza as he looked to steal the second run. The Bangladesh captain didn't back away either. Vince, at the other end, would have been dismissed, if there was a better throw from Shafiul. This is turning into a feisty contest.
Mushfiqur Rahim bailed Bangladesh out of a slightly tricky situation with a well-paced fifty to ensure they would end up with more than just a competitive total. The wicket-keeper-batsman allied some powerful hits with cheeky shots to up the ante. He also got a reprieve as Ben Stokes dropped a tough chance at long-off.
At the other end, Mosaddek Hossain Saikat used the depth of the crease to crunch crucial blows square on the off-side. The track is aiding the spinners and a target of 278 could very well turn out to be an uphill task for the visitors.
Another ordinary delivery has helped Rashid to bag his fourth wicket. It was a full toss and begging to be dispatched, but Nasir Hossain crunched it straight to the man positioned at mid-wicket. James Vince gleefully accepted the chance. Rashid perhaps could buy a lottery today.
Shakib walks back to the pavilion as he has been stumped by Jos Buttler. It was a slightly freakish dismissal as Moeen Ali beat the left-hander with the one that turned away from him. As Shakib also lunged forward, his back-heel was dragged out of the crease.
Buttler couldn't collect it cleanly, but it deflected off his gloves and onto the stumps. Nice piece of bowling though from Moeen as he dragged the batsman out of the crease.
It looks like rain has relented for the time being and the match will start on time. England won the toss and opted to bowl. The hosts have picked an unchanged XI, while Billings and Plunkett replace Roy and Willey for England.
BAN 277/6 (50.0 Ovs)
ENG 278/6 (47.5 Ovs)
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