England bowl their way to victory in the first ODI
Cricket never sleeps. It might seem like only last week the cricket season drew to its magnificent conclusion, but the new campaign has already kicked off on the continent.
Touring Bangladesh amidst tight security and with Jos Buttler as captain for the first time, England put down a par score in their innings.
As Alex Hales had counted himself out of the tour alongside ODI skipper Eoin Morgan, James Vince went out to open with Jason Roy. A familiar theme for Vince’s England career; fleeting strokes, followed by a cheap wicket- gone for 16.
A funky 41 from Roy set England up for a partnership between debutante Ben Duckett and all-rounder Ben Stokes. A swashbuckling century from Stokes was backed up with a respectable 60 from Duckett, who has launched his international cricket career in eye-raising fashion.
Buttler chipped in with a late 63 (including four sixes), setting England up with a defensible 308.
Bangladesh’s innings was characterised by high scores, and generally running out of partners. Kayes, the opener, hit a diligent 112, but was the eight wicket to fall. Al Hasan’s 79 from the number six slot poised the game in Bangladesh’s favour, but Jake Ball managed to terminate the partnership.
Ball looked in excellent nick after a long season of cricket, and appears to have recovered in remarkably quick time. Taking five wickets, England may have found their ODI seamer of the future. Adil Rashid took advantage of pitches conducive to turn, and wreaked considerable havoc- having Al Hasan stumped by Buttler the highlight.
England got over the line in what was a gripping ODI to watch in its final overs. The second match of the three game series takes place again in Dhaka on Sunday.