Experimental England lose T20 series vs Bangladesh after "shambolic" batting

12 March 2023 , 12:17

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An experimental England batting line-up failed to fire against Bangladesh (Image: Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

England have slumped to a disappointing series defeat against Bangladesh after a "shambolic" performance from an experimental batting line-up meant they failed to post a decent total.

Spinner Mehidy Hasan was the chief destroyer for Bangladesh as he picked up stunning figures of 4-12 from his four overs, while Najmul Shanto starred with the bat. Having once again lost the toss and been asked to bat, England decided to shuffle their batting order with injuries to Tom Abell and Will Jacks meaning they could not make any personnel changes to their top order.

Dawid Malan was pushed up a spot to open with Phil Salt as captain Jos Buttler moved himself back into the middle order for the first time since February 2018, while Moeen Ali was promoted to number three. However, England's experimental lineup failed to fire at all as they limped to a lacklustre 117 all out.

England made a solid start as they reached 50-1 at the end of the powerplay, with Malan the sole wicket to fall as he holed out off Taskin Ahmed for just five, but Buttler's side quickly slumped to 57-4 as Salt, Buttler and Moeen were all dismissed in quick succession. Salt was out caught and bowled to Shakib Al Hasan for 25, Buttler was bowled for four by a brilliant Hasan Mahmud yorker and Moeen became Mehidy's first victim when he was caught at deep midwicket for 15.

With England in real trouble, Ben Duckett and Sam Curran attempted a rebuild as they added 34 runs off 32 deliveries. But when Mehidy once again made the breakthrough, getting Curran stumped for a 16-ball 12, England's lower order completely collapsed as they lost their last six wickets for just 26 runs including two run-outs in the final over.

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And former England captain Nasser Hussain branded their display with bat "a bit shambolic", telling Sky Sports: "I don't think England helped themselves. I would have opened with Buttler. I don't like changing the batting line-up for other people's failings. Two games now England have had major collapses. It just looked a little bit shambolic."

On what was a difficult pitch to bat on, England did have some joy with the ball as Curran and Jofra Archer removed both openers Litton Das and Rony Talukdar for nine.

Spinner Mehidy Hasan picked up stunning figures of 4-12 from his four-over spell (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Debutant Rehan Ahmed, who became England's youngest ever men's T20I cricketer, picked up a wicket with his second ball as Towhid Hridoy was caught at point for 17. However, England simply did not have enough runs on the board and Bangladesh ultimately sealed a series victory with a game to spare despite the best efforts of their bowlers.

Shanto continued his excellent form for Bangladesh, having struck three half-centuries in four innings ahead of this game, the 24-year-old scored a match winning 46. Mehidy also impressed with the bat, striking a quick fire 20 that included two sixes before he was bounced out by Archer.

England did continue to show some fight with the ball as Moeen removed Shakib for a duck and Archer bowled Afif Hossain for two to end with brilliant figures of 3-13. But they were unable to claim the prize wicket of Shanto, though, and he safely saw his side over the line alongside Taskin Ahmed with seven balls to spare.

Matthew Cooper