Disappointing series ends with consolation win

Bangladesh managed to find a consolation 50-run win in the third and final One-Day International of their series against England in Chattogram on Monday to ensure that they did not get clean-swept at home.

The series was disappointing for Bangladesh as they lost their seven-year unbeaten streak at home but Shakib Al Hasan’s brilliant performance ensured that they kept hold of their nine-year streak of not getting whitewashed at home.

Batting first, Bangladesh managed 246, courtesy of Shakib’s proactive 75 off 71 balls, which could have turned bigger if the Tigers’ lower-middle order could have provided him with more support. The other notable contributions came from the top as Mushfiqur Rahim scored 70 and Najmul Hossain Shanto 53.

Shakib then came back with the ball to haunt the English as he picked up four wickets to rattle their batting order and find the Tigers’ fifth win over England in the format.

Nonetheless, Bangladesh skipper Tamim Iqbal was conceivably disappointed with the outcome of the series.

“I wanted to finish on a high. I have said a lot of times that we take a lot of pride in our team in this format. Happy to finish with a win but disappointed that we lost the series. There are a lot of things to work on and get better at,” he said after the match.

Bangladesh will especially be disappointed with their batting effort in the series as 246 was their highest score in the whole series and that too was below par considering the conditions.

“It (246) was not a good total. We were in a position from where we could have scored 270-280. But we lost quick wickets and were out of contention. Fortunately, we could take wickets with that total,” Tamim said.

England skipper Jos Buttler, though, was happy with the series win.

“We wanted desperately to win the game today but of course, we’re still delighted to win the series,” he said.

Batting first, Bangladesh lost openers Liton Das and Tamim early, from where Najmul and Mushfiq put on a 98-run stand to turn the tide before the former was run out.

Mushfiq, and then Mahmudullah Riyad, were outdone by googlies from Adil Rashid, and neither of Afif Hossain or Mehidy Hasan Miraz could stick together with Shakib till the end, who got to 75 off 71 and was out as the penultimate wicket.

In reply, England started well with a 55-run opening stand but Shakib dismissed both the openers – Jason Roy and Phil Salt – with Ebadot Hossain removing Dawid Malan in the middle.

Miraz got the better of Sam Curran and Shakib got Vince but it was Taijul who got the crucial wicket of Buttler, allowing Bangladesh a firm grip, from where it was pretty comfortable for the Tigers.