England have managed to script a wonderful 22-run win against Bangladesh on the final day of the first Test match in Chittagong. The home team required 33 runs to win, while England were searching for Bangladesh's last two wickets, which was made possible by Ben Stokes, who dismissed the remaining batsmen in the fourth over of the day.
With this win, England have managed to take a 1-0 lead in the two match Test series. England, by emerging victorious in the first Test, cannot lose the series even if Bangladesh win the second Test, which starts on Friday.
Stokes, who was incredible with the ball in the first innings taking four wickets, came into the final day without a single wicket in the second innings. But the all-rounder struck when it mattered most in the Test match.
Stuart Broad and Stokes opened the bowling for England in the first session on Day 5. Bangladesh scored 10 runs, and the home team were inching closer to the target. Stokes was not going to give up too easily, and he raised the hopes of the team, dismissing Taijul Islam. Two balls later, it was all smiles for the English team, as the all-rounder removed Shafiul Islam for a duck to script a wonderful win.
Despite the loss, Bangladesh skipper Mushfiqur Rahim was pleased with the effort his team showed, and wants his players to maintain the fighting spirit in the next match as well.
"Probably it was not in our favour, 33 runs and two wickets, but the boys put in so much effort over the last five day, after 15 months, I'm really proud. They scored 240 in the second innings, if we'd managed to get 290 in our first innings, it would have brought it [the target] down. Our boys fought it out which is really impressive and hopefully we'll do the same in the next match," Rahim said during the presentation ceremony.
Overall if we look at the first Test, it was an entertaining game, where Stokes all-round skills played an important role in helping England win the match. Besides the six wickets, Stokes' knock of 85 runs in the second innings proved to be the difference between the two sides.
