A wayward bowling led Bangladesh’s downfall as they suffered a massive 137-run defeat to defending champions England in their second game of the ICC Cricket World Cup at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala today.
Being sent to bat first England racked up a daunting 364-9, a score that almost decided the fate of the match. Bangladesh were able to pile up 227 before being all out in 48.2 overs with Liton Das hitting form, scoring 76 off 66. Mushfiqur Rahim was the other notable scorer with 51.
The pitch indeed suited England’s batting style as it was not as slow as Bangladesh expected after beating Afghanistan by six wickets at this venue earlier.
Opener Dawid Malan led the charge with his career-best 107 ball-140, an innings laced with 16 fours and five sixes. Joe Toot hammered 82 off 68 with eight fours and one six and Jonny Bairstow hit 52 to complement Malan’s sixth ODI hundred.
At one point the Three Lions threatened to put up 400 but Bangladesh bowlers bowled comparatively well in the death overs, conceding just 66 runs in last 10 overs for six wickets.
England, which tasted a thumping nine-wicket defeat to New Zealand in the first match, were sent to bat first as Bangladesh wanted to utilize the early moisture, created by the overnight rain.
Bangladesh pacers however couldn’t keep the things tight at the outset as Bairstow and Malan played with caution and aggression to settle them in the crease.
As the ball got older, they found it easier to go on berserk. Even the spinners were not spared. While they were cautious against Shakib Al Hasan, they treated other spinners with disdain to tick the scoreboard rapidly.
Shakib eventually broke the 115-run opening partnership, rattling the stump of Bairstow with his stock weapon arm-ball.
Root joined Malan and together they further punished Bangladesh bowlers at will to stitch a 151-run partnership, which is the highest at any wicket at this venue.
Offspinner Mahedi Hasan who replaced Mahmudullah Riyad for the side’s only change in the match claimed the wicket of Malan as he went for a big shot.
At this phase, as England looked to head toward 400, left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam stifled them. He firstly removed England captain Jos Buttler (20) who appeared to be utter threatening and then got rid of Root and Liam Livingstone in consecutive deliveries.
Harry Brook (20) and England’s lower order batted aggressively to help the side propel past 350-run mark.
Mahedi Hasan was expensive but ended up with his career-best 4-71 while Shoriful took 3-75.
Amongst the Bangladeshi bowlers, only Shakib conceded less than six runs per over.
While they needed a rapid start to give them any chance to edge closer to victory, Bangladesh found them in wanting against left arm pacer Reece Topley.
Topley finished with 4-43 after baffling Bangladesh with swing and movement, which Bangladesh pacers couldn’t find early in the morning even in favourable condition.
After Liton Das got the side off to a decent start, hitting three boundaries in the first over of Chris Woakes, Topley removed Tanzid Tamim and in form Najmul Hossain Shanto in consecutive deliveries.
He then claimed the wicket of skipper Shakib Al Hasan with an unplayable delivery, leaving Bangladesh at 26-3. And when Woakes got the better of Mehidy Hasan Miraz (8), the Tigers were on tricky 49-4.
Liton and Mushfiqur Rahim who made 51 shared 72-run for the third wicket stand before Woakes returned to his second spell to take the wicket of the former who smashed seven fours and two sixes in his innings.
Later Towhid Hridoy made a laborious 39 to only reduce the margin of the defeat but England’s run rate got a much-needed boost.
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