England beat Bangladesh in first ODI despite Imrul Kayes ton as Jake Ball and Adil Rashid inspire sensational comeback in Dhaka

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It looked certain England were heading for heavy defeat here when the Bangladeshi ghosts of World Cup embarrassments past were combining to seemingly make a total of 309 for eight look completely inadequate.

But a five-wicket haul from debutant Jake Ball, only playing because of injury to Liam Plunkett, and two late wickets from Adil Rashid to give him four in all turned this first one-day international around and earned England a 21-run win.

What a day this was for Ben Stokes, who smashed a maiden one-day century and then gave England a rousing pep talk in the field in his new role of vice-captain when all seemed lost, and another debutant in Ben Duckett who produced a first senior 50-over innings rich in promise alongside him. 

Jake Ball claimed five wickets on his England debut to help beat Bangladesh

Imrul Kayes posted his second ODI century but the hosts lost six wickets for 17 runs

Kayes led his country's chase of 310 but his team-mates collapsed at the death

Adil Rashid combined with Ball to pull England back from the brink of defeat

Ben Stokes got England out of a shaky position as he scored 101 in the first innings

Ben Duckett made 60 as England's innings closed on 309 for eight in their 50 overs

Yet ultimately England were indebted to the unlikely figure of Ball, who ended up with the best figures by an English one-day debutant, and Rashid, coming into this series under something of a cloud, for turning the tables.

And the most satisfied member of the England side was surely stand-in captain Jos Buttler who followed his impressive leadership in the first week of a tour dominated by safety concerns with a match-winning all-round display. A penny for the thoughts of regular captain Eoin Morgan, presumably watching at home? 

‘That was a remarkable finish,’ said Buttler afterwards. ‘I thought I had got it all wrong but we kept believing and Stokesy got everyone together on the outfield and told us to fight to the end and make sure we didn’t give it to them easily. He’s quite forceful when he speaks and it made all the difference.’ 

James Vince failed to get the visitors off to a strong start as he made just 16

Jonny Bairstow was run out without scoring a run and later sustained an injury

Duckett was making his internatioal bow at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium

Stokes was dropped two times by Bangladesh when he was on 69 and 71

England were rescued after a shaky start by a contrasting pair of left-handers who added 153 for the fourth wicket in conditions that represent the toughest examination yet of this emerging one-day side.

It was one of Stokes stated aims before this tour to improve his one-day record and now, after taking 17 balls over his first seven runs, he launched Mosaddek Hossain for the first of his four sixes and was quickly into his stride.

At the other end was a newcomer in Duckett, 21, who was handed his chance here at three in the absence of the rested Joe Root but who quickly made a case for a regular place with the quality of his strokeplay and improvisation.

Both had their slices of luck – Stokes being dropped on 69 and 71 and Duckett earning a reprieve on 59 – but this was top quality batting in extreme heat and humidity and with a passionate 25,000 crowd roaring Bangladesh on. 

Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza was one of three bowlers to take two England wickets

Jos Buttler added 63 runs to the score of 310 as he took advantage of Bangladesh's tired attack

Jake Ball claimed two early wickets as England looked to start the series strongly

Kayes had to dive to get back in his ground and avoid a run out chance during his innings

But England still needed another demonstration of the skills that make Buttler one of the best one-day batsmen in the world to get beyond the 300 mark with a turbo-charged 63 after reaching 50 in 33 balls..

Ball was only handed his chance the night before the game when Plunkett failed to recover from the injury to his big left toe that restricted him in England’s warm-up match but he was to have a day to remember.

And he quickly made an impact by taking a wicket with only his fifth ball in white-ball international cricket and then adding a second thanks to an outstanding juggling boundary catch by David Willey as Bangladesh wilted.

Yet England did not expect Imrul Kayes to hit his second hundred against them in a matter of four days to follow his 121 in the warm-up in Fatullah and take his sight to within reach of a crushing victory.

While Kayes, who played both in Adelaide last year when Bangladesh knocked England out of the World Cup and when they defeated them in the 2011 tournament in Chittagong, was adding 138 with another old hand in Shakib Al Hasan the home team were cruising. 

Sabbir Rahman hits towards the deep mid-wicket boundary on a hot and humid evening

Sam Billings takes a catch on the legside boundary to dismiss Mahmudullah

Adil Rashid celebates taking the wicket of Mushfiqur Rahim with Jason Roy

Stokes' day with the ball was much more frustrating than his day with the bat

Ball took two wickets in as many balls to give England late hope in Dhaka

But two wickets in two deliveries from Ball changed all that and it was fitting that Buttler applied the coup de gras when he stumped Kayes off a Rashid wide after dropping him and then took the catch that gave Ball his fifth wicket. ‘I’m speechless,’ said Ball afterwards. ‘It’s what you dream about as a kid.’

It prompted an ecstatic English celebration, a 1-0 lead with two to play and a mass exodus in the stands. ‘It was an emotional day,’ said Buttler of his one-day international debut as captain. ‘You question yourself while you're out there but it was great experience and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a challenge but a good one.’

And it was one that provided food for thought for England’s refuseniks in Morgan and Alex Hales.

Kayes was in imperious form but he fell as part of a collapse of six wickets for 17 runs