Stokes ton sets it up for Ball and Rashid to strike
Bangladesh 288 lost to England 309-8 by 21 runs
DEBUTANT Jake Ball and Adil Rashid bowled England to victory despite Bangladesh looking well set to take the opener.
The hosts slipped from 271-4 to 288 all out when chasing 309-8 with Ball taking five wickets and Rashid chipping in with four.
Ben Stokes’ maiden ODI century was key in England posting a score over 300 while Ben Duckett, another debutant, and captain Jos Buttler both also impressed with the bat.
Buttler said:“They were cruising at one stage, but with new batters coming in, it was fantastic bowling from Ball on debut. It’s great to continue that winning habit.
“Adil has been superb for us for a long time and he was invaluable today. Duckett looked like a seasoned pro out there and he and Stokes showed what we want to be about. I probably got the toss wrong in those conditions so it was a fantastic partnership.”
While Stokes’ innings was more considered, his 101 coming off 100 balls, Buttler’s was more destructive. Just 38 balls needed for his 63.
Even so, Bangladesh looked to be cruising, needing 45 off the final nine overs with six wickets in hand.
Ball took two in two though, including Shakib Al Hasan for 79 before Rashid claimed the key wicket of centurion Imrul Kayes. By then the Tigers were eight down and a typical tail-enders run out left England needing one.
Jake Ball grabbed it for figures of 5-51 as Bangladesh lost 6-17 in 39 balls.