Shanto's maiden fifty steers Bangladesh to 209 in 1st ODI
Najmul Hossain Shanto struck his maiden half-century as Bangladesh were bowled out for 209 in 47.2 overs in the opener of the three-match ODI series against England at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on Wednesday.
Shanto carried his BPL form, where he top-scored with 516, to hit 58 off 82 against a much-vaunted bowling attack of England. The left-hand batter, who came to bat at No.3 position smote six boundaries in his innings, which gave the side a platform.
Mahmudullah Riyad scored 31 off 48 with three fours and accompanied Shanto in 53-run partnership, the only fifty plus partnership in Bangladesh innings, for the fifth wicket stand.
Skipper Tamim Iqbal was the other notable scorer with 23 but after he chose to bat first, Bangladesh lost inform Liton Das (7).
After a shaky start, Liton looked to regain his touch by pulling fast bowler Chris Woakes over deep midwicket for six.
In immediate next delivery, which nipped in late, Liton played down wrong line to be trapped leg-before. His review went in vain.
Mark Wood undid Tamim with sheer pace, leaving Shanto to dig deep alongside Mushfiqur Rahim whose injudicious slog-sweep against googly off leg-spinner Adil Rashid cost his wicket for 16.
Shakib Al Hasan, who moved down for fifth position for the first time after 2017, also threw his wicket, trying slog-sweep Moeen Ali for 8.
With Bangladesh reeling at 106-4, Shanto and Mahmudullah appeared to be in control before Rashid (2-47) with another googly, got the better of the former.
Shanto could have gone for 4 had Roy not failed to cling onto catch off Jofra Archer bowling.
Wood, who ended with 2-34, removed Mahmudullah with another pacy delivery before Archer got into act.
Fresh from his six-wicket haul against South Africa, Archer was erratic in his first spell, conceding 23 runs for four overs. But in his next six overs, he gave away just 14 runs to take two wickets.
Moeen Ali followed Archer, Wood and Rashid to claim two wickets while Will Jacks, who made his ODI debut take one.
Source: BSS
