The score in their ODI series level at 1-1 after their first-ever defeat against Bangladesh...
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Before the match, England had comfortably won eight Tests and 12 one-day internationals against the Bangladeshis. The teams have not met in a Twenty20 match.
This year Bangladesh had lost all 24 fixtures in all forms of cricket, their last win being a one-wicket win over Zimbabwe in November 2009. The unpredictable Bangladeshis have now beaten every Test country in one format or another.
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| Got him! England's Stuart Broad (left) is bowled by Bangladesh's Mashrafe Mortaza during their second ODI at Bristol on Saturday. PIC/AFP |
Bangladesh skipper Mortaza was jubilant. "After losing 24 (matches) in a row this dressing room has no been happy. It is a happy dressing room now".
Jamie Siddons, the coach, said: "It's unbelievable. We thought England were capable of beating everyone. With them at home and all their preparations for the Ashes, it is a brilliant win. It is hard to keep getting beaten and get the players back up. I think they now realize they can beat anyone."
Putting the visitors in to bat after winning the toss, England made heavy weather while chasing Bangladesh's 236 for seven and were bundled out for 231 in 49.3 overs to hand new captain Mashrafe Mortaza's ecstatic team a historic five-run victory.
To be fair, England, in high spirits after their recent 3-2 series victory over Australia, were handicapped by injury to in-form batsman Ian Bell, who broke the fifth metatarsal on his left foot while going for a catch at square-leg.
With the home side in dire straits needing six to be made off the last four balls, Bell dramatically came out to bat at No 11 with his injured foot in a protective boot in manner reminiscent of Colin Cowdrey who walked out with a broken arm at Lord's in 1963.
Bangladesh owed their win to superiority in fielding and spin bowling. Imrul Kayes (76) and Jaharul Islam (40) helped the tourists to their modest score but barring Jonathan Trott (94) andu00a0 Strauss (33), the England batting was all at sea, especially while negotiating the spin bowling of Shakib al Hasan (two for 40) and Abdur Razzak (two for 43) who shackled the batsmen.
England's fielding was ragged with Luke Wright and Ajmal Shahzad dropping two catches apiece.
POSTSCRIPT:
In a farcical finish, last week's county cricket match between Yorkshire and Northamptonshire proved again that a Twenty20 match isn't over until the fat lady sings.
Needing an improbable 13 off the last ball, Northamptonshire's goose appeared cooked. But Richard Pyrah bowled a no-ball, which South African Nicky Boje swung for a six. In the tournament, no balls cost two runs, so that cost the delivery eight runs. Boje then hit the extra ball for four to earn his side a most unexpected tie.
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