Tempers flare as England fail to seal one-day series after defeat to Bangladesh
Stand-in skipper Jos Buttler accused Bangladesh of immaturity as tensions sizzled during England’s 34-run defeat in the second one-day international in Dhaka.
Tempers flared when Buttler was dismissed, on review, by seamer Taskin Ahmed; the usually mild-mannered and unflappable Lancashire wicketkeeper-batsman taking exception to over-zealous celebrations from the Bangladeshi fielders.
The pugnacious edge to the contest, which saw the three-match series levelled at 1-1, did not cease with the final wicket of England tail-ender Jake Ball as Ben Stokes took opener Tamim Iqbal to task after he appeared to refuse a post-match handshake.
“I was just a little bit disappointed in the fashion they celebrated,” said Buttler. “Rightly they are happy to get a wicket, but there is no need to run in someone’s face and celebrate. It was an emotional game. We are grown men so that was disappointing.”
He added: “Emotions run high. Ben is an emotional guy but he would not have reacted like that if nothing had happened.”
Buttler top scored in England’s reply with 57, but all realistic hope of a series-clinching win evaporated with his wicket as the tourists failed chase a modest victory target of 239.
Bangladesh were indebted to an impressive 75 from batsman Mohammad Mahmudullah, while skipper Mashrafe Mortaza chipped in with an enterprising 44 down the order.
England, however, struggled to make any headway and slipped to 26-4, while lower-order contributions from Adil Rashid and Ball merely hinted at an unlikely revival. It was a missed opportunity, according to Buttler.
“It [Bangladesh’s total] was very chaseable,” added Buttler, whose side now face a series decider in Chittagong on Wednesday.
“What disappoints me most is that we were a bit tentative in the way we went about it and that is something we don’t want to be as a side. I want us to come out on the front foot and really take it on.
“It’s just a blip. It’s been tough, we had high hopes of winning this game and going two-nil up in the series.”
All-rounder Chris Woakes, Rashid and Ball had taken two wickets apiece as Bangladesh, who have now won 10th successive ODIs on home soil, were contained by an accurate England attack which varied pace to great effect.
But the scorecard made grim reading for the tourists with only Jonny Bairstow, who made 35 batting at No4, offering resistance in the top order. The Yorkshireman shared 79 with Buttler, but Mortaza proved the scourge of England with 4-29.