Key events
34th over: England 139-5 (Malan 66, Moeen 13) Target 210 For the first time, it feels like the batters are on top, and after Moeen digs as single off the body to square leg, Malan turns – uppishly, it must be said – through midwicket for four. Two singles follow, and Bangladesh need to break this partnership – badly.
33rd over: England 132-5 (Malan 61, Moeen 11) Target 210 England have looked pretty settled the last few overs, and after Moeen takes a single, Malan thrashes Mehidy over mid off for four, then comes down to clout a third six back over the bowler’s head! That’s excellent work, and a single from the over’s final delivery means 12 runs from it – and in case you missed it, I thought I’d draw attention to this line form the link I posted earlier. Imagine this being said of you and it being true!
McCullum said: “I don’t think he’s jeopardising [the Ashes]. The skipper has a strong mind and he knows how to get right for the big moments. His life is that, right?
32nd over: England 120-5 (Malan 50, Moeen 10) Target 210 Hmmmm, Shanto into the attack. I wasn’t expecting that as the five bowlers already used have done so well, but Tamim has marshalled resources really well today, so let’s see how this goes. Malan whacks his first delivery to the man on the cover fence and they run one, then Moeen chops another to similar region. These two are keeping the heid really well, and when Malan drives to long off he raises an essential fifty. That’s drinks, and the match is bang in the balance, the required rate 5.00 and current rate 3.75.
31st over: England 117-5 (Malan 48, Moeen 9) Target 210 It’s six overs since England’s last boundary, but the batters know if they stick around, their team wins. So Taskin bounces Moeen, then noises up the crowd, who respond in the proper manner, and he delivers another dot as the rate climbs above five for the first time … then sends down another bumper which looks too high. But there’s no wide signalled, though Moeen looks long at the umpire, forcing to take matters into his own hands and ruin a potential maiden by timing a low full-toss away through midwicket for four.
30th over: England 113-5 (Malan 48, Moeen 4) Target 210 Oh man! Malan backs away, making room to cut Mehidy, and he chops onto his back leg, and just past the stumps! That was so, so close, and another maiden just pours further turps onto a match that was already glowing beautifully. I’ve not a clue who’s going to win this.
29th over: England 113-5 (Malan 48, Moeen 4) Target 210 Chale! Taskin returns and Malan knocks him to point, calling for one … but it’s never on! Mehidy just has to hit and Moeen’s pretty much given up … except the shy misses! One to the total! But five dots follow, Bangladesh increasing the pressure; England are OK with the rate, just 4.65, so have no need to throw hands, but it’s easy to say that from behind a screen.
28th over: England 112-5 (Malan 47, Moeen 5) Target 210 Aha the ball with which Mehidy got Jacks was 7kph slower than the one before, making it significantly harder for him to force it over the fielder and meaning he was through the shot sooner than he needed to be to impose full pwer upon it. Bangladesh have bowled really well so far today and Tamim has managed his bowlers superbly; this latest over, from Mehidy, yields just two singles.
27th over: England 109-5 (Malan 46, Moeen 3) Target 210 Mustafizur continues and Moeen forces another single to backward point, then Malan adds one via pull, a wide arriving in between. With the required rare just 4.38, England can just work the ball about, but then Mustafizur persuades Moeen to hang bat away from body, and if there’s a feather – which there might’ve been – it misses off by very little and drops short of the keeper. Three singles follow.
26th over: England 104-5 (Malan 44, Moeen 1) Target 210 Moeen gets away immediately with a single to cover, but Bangladesh know, one more wicket and they’re in great shape
WICKET! Jacks c Afif Hossain by Mehidy Hasan 26 (England 103-5)
Wickets at regular intervals! I’ve no idea what Jacks was thinking here – well, I do, whack it over the fence – but I’ve no idea why he was thinking what he was thinking because he knew there was a man out at deep square specifically for this shot. But he foes back in the crease, doesn’t get all of it, and picks out the man! This is set-up!
26th over: England 103-4 (Malan 44, Jacks 26) Target 210 Bangladesh were 117-4 for at halfway, but had the disadvantage of needing to set the most destructive batting line-up in the world a target. Tamim, meanwhile, brings back Mehidy, and Malan takes his loosner for one.
25th over: England 102-4 (Malan 43, Jacks 26) Target 210 Ach, Malan edges Mustafizur … but it dies in front of Mushfiqur! I’m sure I heard a noise there, and yup, Ultraedge shows us there was a feather – given the pace, I’m surprised ball didn’t go to hand. And as I type that, Malan totally misses with a cut before taking the final delivery of the over for one to square leg.
24th over: England 101-4 (Malan 42, Jacks 26) Target 210 Jacks looks more at home now, confidently cracking the first ball of Taijul’s over to point for one. But then Malan has a proper heave across the line, missing by a way and wearing the delivery on the body. He quickly moves on though, taking two into the off side, and when a single follows, then four to Jacks via edge, Bangladesh are back at need a wicket time. The partnership is 36 off 28.
23rd over: England 93-4 (Malan 39, Jacks 21) Target 210 Malan is dealing in singles now and takes one to mid on, then Mustafizur goes full and Jacks can only block. So next ball he trusts his power and eye, thrashing over wide long off for six that drops just over the fence. And there we go, four turned more through square leg when Mustafizur drops short and straight. England badly needed an over like this, not because the rate was on top but because they needed to reassert and Jack, in particular, needs to get comfy. A single follows, and that’s 12 off the over.
22nd over: England 81-4 (Malan 38, Jacks 10) Target 210 Taijul replaces Shakib, his first delivery hits Malan, who misses his turn to leg, on the pad and there’s a serious shout. Oh man, I love a serious shout and can’t pretend I didn’t join in. But the umpire says no and looking again, the turn back in makes it look like the ball was missing leg stump. So Taijul goes again, and though Malan adds a single to square leg, Jacks then misses looking to drive towards cover – though he does then finagle a single to mid off. Bangladesh are bang on top here.
21st over: England 78-4 (Malan 36, Jacks 9) Target 210 Mustafizur into the attack – what a card he is to play at this juncture – and he beats Malan with his loosener, seam-up from left-arm around with decent bounce and carry that defeats the outside edge. And have a look! After a single, Jacks clobbers straight back at the bowler, who raises hands to protect face more than anything, and the ball goes in and out. One off the over.
20th over: England 77-4 (Malan 35, Jacks 9) Target 210 Shakib skids one on with the arm and Jacks, anticipating spin so unfurling a cut, does very well to edge four through third. A single and a wide follow, making this England’s best over in some time.
19th over: England 70-4 (Malan 34, Jacks 4) Target 210 Jacks has a mahoosive mow at Taskin, whose delivery dies in the surface, then cuts to the man at point … then has another swing that diverts ball into pad; that could easily have ricocheted into the stumps. He’s not settled yet, which makes sense – I can’t say I was totally chill making my international debut – and tangentially, when did “chilled” become “chill”? Anyhow, Jacks finally gets meaningful contact on the ball, easing one to deep third, then Malan wears a shy on the back when considering punching a single – that puts him off – and the rate, only 4.51, is nevertheless climbing.
18th over: England 69-4 (Malan 34, Jacks 3) Target 210 Yup, Tamim knows the match is here. If England can build a partnership here, their lower-order should be able to finish things if necessary, but if they can’t, it could be over quickly. So Shakib is brought back and the batters take a single each, then Jacks adds one more to cover.
“To my mind the English cricket world must have gone through a bizarre space/time vortex with the arrival of the Mott/Mcullum coaching setup,” emails Jim Neale. “The reason behind this theory is the required run-rate in a 50 over game is less than the scoring rate in recent Test matches. Any quantum physicists out there who might be able to explain this?”
It’s nuts isn’t it? The rationale, I guess, is that Test fields give loads of scope for hitting in front of the wicket, but yes, I’d expect the Test line-up to chase this pretty easily.
17th over: England 66-4 (Malan 33, Jacks 1) Target 210 Now, can Taskin build on that? He’s got Jacks, on ODI debut, to go at, and he gets away with a clever inside-edge between his legs for one. He’ll feel a bit better for that, while Malan now knows he’s got to bat through or close to through – which means he needs to be a little careful with what he attacks. England do still have Moeen, but after that it’s the bowlers, and though Woakes and Rashid are no mugs, there’s a lot of work still to do. And, as I type that, Taskin yanks Malan forward to nip one away from the bat! He’s got six overs left, I daresay he’ll be allowed a couple more as Tamim seeks to break the back of this match right now.
WICKET! Buttler c Shanto b Taskin 9 (England 65-3)
AND THERE IT IS! THE BIGGUN! This is brilliant work from Tamim, who not only brings back his strike-bowler, but also gives him a slip. And when he finds some decent bounce, Buttler, looking to carve away behind square on the off side, instead edges to that man just inserted, who takes a smart snaffle, hands in front of phizog.
16th over: England 65-3 (Malan 33, Buttler 9) Target 210 Buttler is in now and he collars Mehidy’s first delivery, sweeping four through square leg before adding one to the same area. Malan then takes a further single to long off, and Buttler ends the over fiddling another. The scoreboard is ticking, which mans Bangladesh need a wicket.
15th over: England 58-3 (Malan 32, Buttler 3) Target 210 This is a really good contest.
REIVEW! NOT OUT!
Ach, that was close, the ball jagging away from Malan’s bat as he plays around it … and it was going to clip the top of leg stump, but in an umpire’s cally kind of way.
15th over: England 58-3 (Malan 32, Buttler 3) Target 210 Bangladesh know that one more wicket quickly and they’re really in with a shout. But in the meantime, England add two singles before Malan splatters Taijul over square leg for six! Next ball, though, latter hits former on pad, implores and beseeches for lb … the umpire says nah … and at the last second, Tamim reviews.
14th over: England 50-3 (Malan 25, Buttler 2) Target 210 Mehidy is bowling a lovely spell here, ripping one past Malan’s outside edge and missing the off-bail by the thickness of a blue Rizla. Malan does, though, get off strike with a press to long off, then Buttler goes to long on for one more and Malan nabs the same to cover, raising England’s fifty as the sun sets. The drone footage of Mirpur is beautiful.
13th over: England 47-3 (Malan 23, Buttler 1) Target 210 So what does Buttler do here? Bat sensibly, looking to see it out – Eoin Morgan would never – or stick with the philosophy? He gets off the mark with a sweep, Malan adds one more, and the noise in the ground is decent, the crowd growing.
WICKET! Vince st Mushfiqur b Taijul 6 (England 45-3)
I don’t know, I really don’t. I was just writing that maidens shouldn’t bother England as they’ve loads of overs and batters in hand, but Vince premeditates a mooch down, Taijul drops a little shorter, and Mushfiqur does the rest. We got ourselves a ball-game.
12th over: England 45-2 (Malan 22, Vince 6) Target 210 Mehidy Hasan is bowling beautifully, diddling Malan with a beauty that drifts, grips and nips away. Maiden.
11th over: England 45-2 (Malan 22, Vince 6) Target 210 Eeesh, after a single to Malan, Vince does really well to block a grubber, forcing bat down just in time. And then, more classic Vince, jumping down to caress over extra with a flourish – held, naturally – for four. Two singles follow, and England are back away.
10th over: England 38-2 (Malan 20, Vince 1) Target 210 Mehidy Hasan continues, his second over also the last of the powerplay. And it’s a goodun too, Malan shoving its final delivery to long on for one, the only run coming from it. The required rate is now 4.30; the current rate is 3.80 or, in other words, Bangladesh need wickets.
9th over: England 37-2 (Malan 19, Vince 1) Target 210 Vince, you’d reckon, has only an outside chance of making the World Cup squad, so needs to make the most of this chance. He turns into the on side for one, then Malan drives towards cover, and that completes an excellent over from Taijul, just two runs from it and the wicket of Salt.
WICKET! Salt b Taijul Islam 12 (England 35-2)
There we go! Taijul bowls a little quicker and Salt backs away, backs away, then can’t get the bat down properly, and when there’s no turn he’s totally wrapped up, losing his leg peg, perhaps off edge or pad! Bangladesh needed that and didn’t Taijul enjoy it!
8th over: England 35-1 (Salt 12, Malan 18) Target 210 Mahidy Hasan into the attack, the third twirler deployed in just eight overs, and Malan waits for him, cutting four behind square on the off side. Next ball, he stretches down, then at the last second decides to drive, relieved to see it drop just short of extra … who fumbles, allowing the batters to run two.
7th over: England 29-1 (Salt 12, Malan 12) Target 210 Yup, they’re moving. Taijul into the attack and Malan blocks his loosener, then, prances down and wellies six over long on! A single follows, then Salt finds his edge again, squirting three away behind the wicket, and a further one means 11 off the over. Bangladesh need another breakthrough really, which isn’t me being dramatic even though I feel like I am, saying that after seven overs, but defending a small target they can’t have a team of England’s quality exceeding the rate with batters in hand.
6th over: England 18-1 (Salt 9, Malan 4) Target 210 I really like the look of Taskin, and not just because he reminds me of Tosker, who I don’t actually like. Anyhow, gratuitous nostalgia aside, after a single to Malan, Salt forces away through midwicket and it looks like Shakib should cut-off, but the ball seems to speed up as he chugs alongside, so that’s four. England are moving – a little.
5th over: England 13-1 (Salt 5, Malan 3) Target 210 Shakib continues and begins with a leg bye, then Malan eases down to go over the top but a single to midwicket is all he can manage. Salt then nudges to mid on and they go again – that’s really well-run because they’re home quick enough to take the shy out of the equation. Two to extra follows, and that’s six from the over, England’s best so far.
“May I just say how completely gutted I was to be physically unable to follow the overnight Tests in NZ,” emails Alistair Connor. “As a Kiwi in France, a daytime Test matches my sleeping hours quite precisely. The morning routine of dialling up the Guardian cricket page on my phone to find the OBO « as it happened » link, while squinting to try to avoid knowing the outcome … then frantically paging back to the start of play, still squinting … made my breakfasts absolute magic. Especially day four, with growing incredulity: my God, we’re still in this… Deep thanks to you, Tanya and the rest of the crew. It was real. Virtually.”
Ahhhh thanks, I’m choking up. Mainly because I’m still sleep-deprived. But seriously, we all love this thing of ours and its little community; getting to collate its thoughts is is our privilege.
4th over: England 7-1 (Salt 2, Malan 1) Target 210 Bangladesh have started really well here, and I guess England are torn between either doing as they do or playing with a little more circumspection on the basis that sensible batting should equal victory. Tangentially, how are we feeling about the Test situation? I’m a simpleton mark, but I totally back Stokes: frankly, his team should’ve won, so if we’re recriminating, it should be with them not with him, given the Testvangelists have already established that they’re playing for a higher purpose – the future of this beautiful thing of ours – than the basic “winning cricket matches”. Anyhow, two dots then Taksin slants across Malan and reckons he’s kissed a bit of bat so appeals exactly as you would, like it’s a fait accompli; after a long think, Tamim decides that actually it isn’t. Still, he’d’ve took a maiden, and this is a terrific contest.
3rd over: England 7-1 (Salt 2, Malan 1) Target 210 Salt takes a single to long off, and he probably knows he needs to assert himself here because there aren’t that many matches before the World Cup but there are several handy batters after his spot. Malan then adds a Red Bull-one, turning to mid on and setting off as Shanto shies and misses; I reckon he was home with a hit, just.
2nd over: England 5-1 (Salt 1, Malan 0) Target 210 Pace from the other end, Taskin opening up with a Test-match delivery, full and just outside off; Salt defends to mid on. Oh and have a look! A jaffa follows, quick and bit shorter, bouncing and missing the edge outside off. This is excellent stuff, the only run off the over coming from its final ball – another leading edge, flashed past gully to deep and squarish third. This is boiling.
WICKET! Roy c Tamim Iqbal b Shakib Al Hasan 4 (England 4-1)
Hello! Roy jinks down the track and at first look seems to be trying to see how high he can sky one. The reality is probably a leading edge, but either way, Tamim has plenty time to prime and watch the ball plop into his grateful hands. Great start for the hosts!
1st over: England 4-0 (Roy 4, Salt 0) Target 210 Aaaargggghhhh! Trying to remind everyone how good he is, Roy goes hard at Shakib’s first ball and drills a return on the stretch … that Shakib can’t quite reach following through! What a start that would’ve been! Instead, Roy late cuts the fourth delivery for four.
Righto, the players are ready, Roy and Salt opening and Shakib to open.
Tymal Mills also just referred to “your 250s, your 300s,” which is not something you hear often: pluralised numbers. If anyone happens to have recorded today’s coverage, the part of my brain that is even more infantile that the rest would love to include it in this.
Presumably Harry Brook will force his way into the squad; Joe Root should be a lock, especially in India; Jonny Bairstow is to come back; Ben Stokes will surely put in an appearance; Liam Livingstone too … and that’s half a team. It’s a ridiculous state of affairs, it really is.
England do look in good nick though. An attack containing Mark Wood and Jofra Archer is a problem for anyone; add to that Adil Rashid, and perhaps the most ludicrous battery of batters the world has ever seen and they’ve got a decent chance in India – especially if, as Tymal Mills has just explained, tracks are likely to be flat.
Thanks Tanya and good morning everyone. It’s a funny one this, because Bangladesh aren’t far off a par score, and yet you kind of expect England to ease home in paradoxically frantic fashion. We shall see…
And as Steven Finn and Tymal Mills rub their hands in glee about the return to fitness of Mark Wood, it is time for me to hand over to Daniel Harris, who will be your expert guide to England’s reply. Thanks for messages – bye!
England need 210 to win
47.2 overs: Bangladesh 209 all out ( Rahman 0) About twenty runs short of the par score at Mirpur, and you would imagine that it won’t give England’s stellar batting line up, playing for World Cup places, too much to worry about. A job well done by England’s bowlers: Archer got better and better, Wood was fast and timely, Woakes parsimonious, the spinners on point – Rashid in particular finding some rumbustious turn. For Bangladesh, a nice innings by Shanto and reward for the selectors for sticking with him.
WICKET! Taijul c and b Moeen 10 (Bangladesh 209 all out)
A what-have-I-got-to-lose hoike and Moeen just waits for it to fall to earth
47th over: Bangladesh 209-9 ( Taijul 9, Mustafizur 0 ) A wide, a no ball and a wicket. Jofra Archer completes a pleasing ten over spell of 2-37. From a sticky start, his rhythm improved, with the usual sprinkling of unplayable jaffas.
WICKET! Taskin c Buttler b Archer 14 (Bangladesh 208-9)
Taskin keeps out a slower ball but is done by a quick one that passes between body and bat and is taken by a flowing Buttler.
46th over: Bangladesh 206-8 ( Taskin 14, Taijul 9) Another wide, some awkward singles and then a quite stunning little dab through midwicket brings Taijul four. In the Bangladesh dugout, fast bowling coach Allan Donald smiles. Wood sniffs
In my inbox a sudden deluge of emails advising me how to nail professional pictures for Linkedin, how to make my home more energy efficient and what foods to eat to prevent travel sickness. Save me from these OBOers, bring me your thoughts on Jofra’s return.
45th over: Bangladesh 197-8 ( Taskin 14, Taijul 3) Another wide, these extras here and there giving Bangladesh some much-needed runs. It’s a big ask for the tailenders to pick up runs off Jofra Archer and they do well to pick up a couple of singles.
It has its moments.
44th over: Bangladesh 194-8 ( Taskin 13, Taijul 2) Hawk eye thwarts Adil Rashid, who seems to have Taskin lbw, plum as you like on the back pad. Taskin reviews, but a suddenly generous Hawkeye suggests that the ball would have bounced over the top of the stumps. To squeeze more salt into the wound, Taskin swings the next ball with vigour into the (very male) crowd for six! Four follows through third to great delight.