Butterfingered Tigers

What could have been one of the most memorable chases in Bangladesh's cricketing history turned out to be one of their most miserable defeats.

Miserable not because of the margin of the loss, but because of the immense opportunity that the hosts let go at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.

Looking back at the 21-run loss in the first ODI against England, the Bangladeshi team management will ponder upon a number of moments in the game. The three dropped catches, the brilliant catch at the boundary from David Willey that dismissed the in-form Sabbir Rahman or even Mosharraf Hossain's poor day on the field, but the one phase that may go on to haunt them for quite some time is the last 10 overs of the game -- a period which saw the hosts lose their last six wickets for just 17 runs.

Riding on Ben Stokes's maiden century and brilliant half-centuries from debutant Ben Duckett and stand-in captain Jos Buttler, the visitors posted 309 for eight after electing to bat first.

The hosts were buoyed by a brilliant 118-run stand between Imrul Kayes and Shakib Al Hasan which took Bangladesh to 265 for four at the end of 40 overs. It was a brilliant stand; almost heroic.

Imrul, who had fought his way back into the side, scored a much-needed century. When in his 80s, Imrul cramped up and was limping on the field, but reached the three-figure mark after limping for nearly six overs.

He reached the mark in the oddest of ways. He defended the first ball of the 37th over straight back to Willey. Spotting the batsman slightly out of the crease, Willey attempted to run him out. The ball did hit the stumps, but Imrul was comfortably in, and the ball went on to go all the way over the boundary.

Imrul did not celebrate much, simply raising his bat and getting back to duty.

Shakib, who had supported Imrul throughout his cramps by denying the doubles when required, unleashed himself after Imrul reached his century. He smacked Moeen Ali for a six and a four in the following over and then punished Chris Woakes with three fours in over number 39. He reached his half-century in the process, but barely anyone noticed because he did not celebrate, keeping in mind the bigger task in hand.

By the end of 40th over, Bangladesh needed just 54 with six wickets in hand. The win was seemingly in the bag. However, that is when drama struck.

Despite the equation, debutant Jake Bell and leg-spinner Adil Rashid were determined and they put in a superb effort towards the end to turn things around.

Willey removed Shakib for 79 with a bouncer off the third ball of the 42nd over. He then came back with a brilliant inswinging delivery to bowl the young Mosaddek Hossain.

And just like that, Bangladesh had their backs against the wall.

Mashrafe Bin Mortaza was caught behind in the next over and suddenly the hosts needed 31 runs from            36 balls with just three wickets in hand.

Rashid put the final nail in the coffin when he got Imrul stumped with the first ball off the fifth over. He bowled a flighted wide delivery and made a cramped Imrul come down the track and had him stumped off a wide.

Regardless of the result, it was an end to a brilliant innings. An innings that included eleven fours and two sixes, Imrul had taken the attack to the English when his colleagues at the top struggled.

The best part was the way he cautiously handled himself after reaching the century. Unlike a number of other Bangladeshi batsmen, he ensured that he would remain at the crease and not merely go for boundaries. He recognised that his team had a long way to go.

Ball came in and removed Mosharraf and Taskin Ahmed towards the end and claimed a well-deserved five-wicket haul on debut to finish the game.

Earlier, England recovered from a nervous 63 for three thanks to a 153-run stand between Stokes and Ben Duckett. The duo smacked Bangladesh's spinners, who put in their most expensive performance in a bilateral series since 2015, all over the park. Stokes, who scored 101 off 100 balls, seemed to master the art of playing the reverse sweep, as he regularly employed the stroke to good use.  He was dropped twice, once on 69 and again on 72, and made full use of the opportunities given to him by hitting eight fours and four sixes.

Buttler came in towards the end and hit a 38-ball 63 to take England past 300.

Except for Shakib, who took two wickets, Bangladesh's spinners were disappointing. Mashrafe and Shafiul Islam took two wickets each and were the most effective bowlers for the hosts.