GUWAHATI: Defending champions England on Monday, outclassed spirited Bangladesh by four wickets to finalize their preparations for the ICC World Cup 2023.
Chasing a revised target of 197, England amassed the total for the loss of six wickets and 77 balls to spare with all-rounder Moeen Ali leading the charge with a brisk half-century.
Right-handed opener Jonny Bairstow gave England a flying start despite his partner Dawid Malan’s early dismissal as the holders got to the 50-run mark in just four overs.
Bairstow’s fireworks, however, outlasted on the first delivery of the fifth over. He scored a 21-ball 34 which included six boundaries and a six.
His dismissal fuelled Bangladesh with momentum and their pacers brought them back into the game with three more dismissals, leaving England reeling at 114/5 as Harry Brook (17), Jos Buttler (30) and Liam Livingstone (7) fell in quick succession.
England’s top batter Joe Root, who witnessed England’s brief collapse at the non-striker’s end was then joined by Moeen Ali and the pair soon knitted a 79-run partnership to put their side in command.
Moeen dominated the sixth-wicket partnership with a brisk half-century while Root anchored the other end.
The all-round, however, faltered against Nasum Ahmed in the 24th over when England needed just five more.
He top-scored for England in their last ICC World Cup 2023 warm-up fixture with a 39-ball 56, laced with two boundaries and six sixes.
Meanwhile, Root carried his bat all the way through for an unbeaten 26 in 40 balls.
Mustafizur Rahman led the bowling attack for Bangladesh with 2/23 while Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, Taskin Ahmed and Nasum Ahmed made one scalp each.
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Opting to bat first, Bangladesh piled 188/9 after the warm-up fixture was reduced to 37 overs per side due to rain interruption.
Bangladesh got off to a dismal start to their innings as they lost two wickets for a mere 26 runs in five overs as Litton Das (5) and stand-in captain Najmul Hossain Shanto (2) perished cheaply.
Following the slump, Tanzid Hasan was joined by Mehidy Hasan Miraz at the crease and the pair knitted a 52-run partnership before the former faltered.
Hasan fell just shy of his half-century as he scored 45 in 44 deliveries, hitting seven boundaries and a six.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz then put on brief partnerships with Mushfiqur Rahim (8), Mahmudullah (18), Towhid Hridoy (5) and Mahedi Hasan (3) before finally perishing in the 34th over.
He waged a lone battle for Bangladesh with an 89-ball 74 which included 10 boundaries.
Bangladesh then coped with two more blows to their batting expedition when Nasum Ahmed (0) and Mahedi Hasan (3) fell in successive overs, leaving the side reeling at 179/9 in 34.1 overs.
Tailenders Taskin Ahmed made a notable contribution to the total with an unbeaten 12 while Shoriful Islam could score three not out.
Reece Topley led the bowling attack for England in their second ICC World Cup 2023 warm-up fixture, returning with splendid figures of 3/23.
He was followed by fellow pacer David Willey and leg-spinner Adil Rashid, who bagged two each.
Sam Curran and Mark Wood, on the other hand, made one scalp each.
Squads
England: Jos Buttler (captain), Moeen Ali, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes, Reece Topley, David Willey, Mark Wood, Chris Woakes.
Bangladesh: Shakib Al Hasan (c), Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das (vc), Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, Nasum Ahmed, Mahedi Hasan, Tanzid Hasan, Tanzim Hasan, Mahmudullah.
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