Jos Buttler’s England try to avoid the embarrassment of being shutout by Bangladesh in the final match of their white ball tour in Mirpur… when New Zealand dramatically beat Sri Lanka to end their opponents’ hopes of reaching the final .
- England will continue with the top six fighting on conditions favorable to bowlers.
- Bangladesh are considering resting members from their impressive bowling attack
- While India sealed a 2-1 series victory over Australia following a fourth Test draw
England will today try to avoid the embarrassment of being shut out by Bangladesh in their first series since becoming Twenty20 world champions.
Jos Buttler’s side head into the final match of the white ball tour in Mirpur, 2-0 against the ninth-ranked hosts, struggling for runs and unable to refresh their staff after opting to battle with a squad of 13 men instead replaces injured duo Tom Abell and Will Jacks.
Lacking alternatives, they will continue with a top six battling on bowler-friendly terms and featuring Moeen Ali and Sam Curran. Both men batted lower down the order in last year’s World Cup-winning campaign.
However, the Bangladeshis could give England a breather, who last night considered resting members of their impressive bowling attack ahead of upcoming matches here against Ireland.
Left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam, the leading wicket-taker in the recent Bangladesh Premier League, and closer Rejaur Rahman Raja are in the draw to make their debut.
Jos Buttler’s side head into the final match of the white ball tour in Mirpur, 2-0 against the ninth-ranked hosts.
England will try today to avoid the embarrassment of being whitewashed by Bangladesh
Harry Brook, one of England’s absentees here, was named the ICC player of the month for February yesterday, mainly for another prolific Test series in New Zealand in which he hit a career-best 186. It was Brook’s second award in three months.
New Zealand squared off that series dramatically with a one-run win in Wellington a fortnight ago and were involved in another five-day thriller yesterday when they stole a late-game bye to beat Sri Lanka to end their opponents’ hopes. to reach the final of the World Test Championship.
Sri Lanka needed to beat the Kiwis 2-0 to upset the odds and qualify, but Australia will now face India at the Kia Oval on June 7-11 following their two-wicket defeat.
New Zealand, starting a rain-delayed final day with nine wickets in hand and a further 257 runs required, had whittled the equation down to eight since last courtesy of Kane Williamson’s unbeaten hundred.
However, when Matt Henry was left without attempting a second run off the third ball, he brought the injured Neil Wagner to the crease with five runs still required.
Williamson leveled the scores with a point from four and, after Asitha Fernando was given the benefit of the doubt on a wide call, the New Zealand ninth-wicket pairing scrambled the deciding single.
Wagner somehow managed to make it to the forward end despite a bulging disc in his back and a torn hamstring, while Williamson’s desperate full-length plunge on the other fractionally outpaced a direct hit after for goalkeeper Niroshan Dickwella to pass the ball to Fernando.
Meanwhile, India sealed a 2-1 series win over Australia following a fourth Test draw in Ahmedabad.
They are fighting for runs and are unable to refresh their staff after opting to fight with a 13-man squad.
New Zealand dramatically stole a bye in the final installment of the match to beat Sri Lanka