Bangladesh had designed a puzzle for England in the form of the wicket at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, but, in the end, neither team perhaps fully anticipated what the wicket had in store. Bangladesh were slightly ahead in that regard and their spin strategy showed merits, but ironically, it was their batting that let them down and ultimately caused their downfall.

Dawid Malan proved to be the difference and the application shown during his unbeaten 114 was the difference-maker in England's three-wicket win in the first ODI yesterday.

The build up to the game had all been about how much turn and slowness the surface had on offer. But far from being slow, there was extra bounce which helped England seamers like Mark Wood or Chris Woakes. It also helped the likes of Taskin Ahmed later on.

More importantly, the Bangladesh spin trio of Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Shakib Al Hasan and Taijul Islam got quite a few deliveries to just kick off the surface, uncharacteristic of Mirpur surfaces in the past, and the trio found sharp turn as well. For a long stretch of the England innings, the world champions were kept in their toes until Malan ensured victory with a gritty ton.

When Bangladesh won the toss, it looked like a very good track to bat on. There was true bounce and some of the shots, especially from Nazmul Hossain Shanto, showed the surface to be at least a 250 wicket.

English seamers such as Woakes got the ball to move early on amidst Bangladesh's breezy start with Tamim Iqbal finding the ropes on a few occasions. Woakes got the better of Liton with one that held its line before his extra pace burst through Tamim's defences.

The England spinners came into the game thereafter, one a finger spinner and another a leggie. Mushfiqur Rahim, who saw off 34 deliveries, never looked truly comfortable and departed to a slog sweep against Adil Rashid before a rash slog-sweep from Shakib allowed Moeen Ali to rattle his stumps.

Shanto was playing fluently as he went past 40 before the fall of those two wickets, but he then began to struggle with timing and shot selection. He trudged along to his fifty along with Mahmudullah Riyad at the other end, who looked set for an important knock.

The fifth-wicket partnership of 53 off 80 deliveries was the most crucial stage of the Bangladesh innings as they looked to consolidate after the fall of four wickets and lay the platform for a burst after the 35th over.

Najmul Hossain Shanto pulls one off the back-foot during his maiden ODI half-century during the game. Photo: Firoz Ahmed

That is where the complexion changed. First, Shanto was dismissed after a disastrous shot off Adil, having spent time at the crease and even completing his first ODI fifty in 16 innings. His 82-ball 58 was handy but the platform was set to get something bigger.

Mahmudullah followed him back to the hut after seven more deliveries, a tickle down the leg-side ending in the wicketkeeper's gloves to gift Wood his wicket. Afif Hossain got off another poor shot and Miraz, the hero of the India series, did not come to the rescue as Bangladesh managed just 209.

While Adil got the ball to turn quite a bit, the Bangladesh batters seemed adamant to struggle of their own accord.

Shakib, Miraz and Taijul created far better circumstances for their side than England spinners but Malan stood firm. Having taken 92 deliveries to get to his fifty with wickets falling around him, he settled down and then accelerated at his own pace.

England were made to work hard for their runs and the wicket had slowed down a bit later in the evening while Bangladesh innings lost the plot in a haze.

Malan carried on with a 51-run unbroken stand with Rashid for a three-wicket win while Bangladesh were left to rue their batting performance with no one carrying on. The India series had raised concerns regarding the batting, now the first ODI against England has put spotlight firmly on batters.

Scores in brief
Bangladesh: 209 all out in 47.2 overs (Shanto 58, Mahmudullah 31, Tamim 23; Archer 2-37, Ali 2-35, Wood 2-34)
England: 212 for seven in 48.4 overs (Malan 114 not out, Jacks 26; Taijul 3-54, Mehedi 2-35)
Result : England won by three wickets