Team England have won the toss and elected to bowl first against host Bangladesh in the 3rd and final ODI match of the series.

Openers Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes are now on the field batting for Bangladesh in this series-decider.

The match has started at 2:30 PM at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.

Both teams have shown vulnerability, which has added to the context of another big occasion. Bangladesh have the chance to become only the second team in the sub-continent to win seven home bilateral ODI series in a row, and England would like to stop them from doing it.

Jos Buttler is leading a feisty unit that bats as deep as No. 11, now that Jake Ball also showed that he can hold his own. What has been delightful to see has been Ball’s effort with the ball in his first playing experience in the sub-continent. His attitude is an asset that can spread through the team over the long winter in Bangladesh and India.

Bangladesh, meanwhile, will have another chance to right their top and middle-order wrongs, and find a way to raise their run-rate in the last ten overs. But all of this can happen only if the weather plays its part but the leaden skies over the port city isn’t saying an encouraging story.

Bangladesh’s musical chairs with the left-arm spinner has Taijul Islam back in the squad but it is unlikely that he will make it into the XI. The home team are likely to go with the winning combination, barring injuries.

“If the wicket is sweaty, the toss becomes a factor and then many a times the in-and-out that may have due to the rain interruptions can make it difficult. These can bother both teams,” Mashrafe Mortaza was keeping a close on eye on conditions.

Bangladesh Team: Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Sabbir Rahman, Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim†, Shakib Al Hasan, Mosaddek Hossain, Nasir Hossain, Mashrafe Mortaza*, Saiful Islam, Taskin Ahmed

England Team: SW Billings, JM Vince, BM Duckett, JM Bairstow, BA Stokes, JC Buttler*†, MM Ali, CR Woakes, AU Rashid, LE Plunkett, JT Ball