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April 11, 2007 (Link to Scorecard)

England have played eight ODIs against Bangladesh and to their credit they have won all the 8 matches including the Super Eights one at Barbados. A four-wicket win with 5.1 overs to spare when a side is chasing a paltry 144 is no means an impressive win. That is where England's victory over Bangladesh today doesn't sound like a convincing one. The Tigers succumbed on a pitch that had too much of life for a One Day International. Worryingly enough, not for Bangladesh, but for the organizers, the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown is also going to host the Grand Final of the World Cup on the 28th and the first match played here saw the wicket to have lot of pace and bounce, not the ideal conditions for a limited overs game.

The toss was won by Michael Vaughan and there was no hesitation at all in putting the Tigers to bat first on a pitch that was tailor-made for the speed merchants. Unable to handle the extra sting, the Bangladeshi top order gave away in minutes and the scoreboard read a disastrous 65 for 6! They could have been easily bundled out under three figures but for a 47-run stubborn partnership between Saqibul Hasan and all rounder Mashrafe Mortaza. It was only the temptation of hitting out the flighted deliveries from Monty Panesar that got the breakthrough and the final few wickets went down quickly. Bangladesh's innings folded for 143 in 37.2 overs. Young Saqibul Hasan batted beautifully to remain unbeaten on 57 having fought hard for 95 balls. His innings was fuelled with 6 fours and a six. Mashrafe Mortaza was the other mainstay, although he made just 13, he batted for 43 balls. Only four Bangladeshis could get into double figures.

The English bowling looked top class as they made full use of what was on offer for them, it was like a child having to eat a lollipop. The toss therefore proved to be very decisive in the outcome of the match. Sajid Mahmood bowled some unplayable deliveries besides picking up 3 for 27 in 8.2 while his new ball partner James Anderson took 2 for 30 in 8. Monty Panesar was a delight to watch, he held the ball back in the air and got a wonderful loop that foxed three Bangladeshi batsmen in going for the wrong shots. The English Turbonator finished with 3 for 25 in 7 overs. England got a few overs to bat before the lunch break in which they had lost Ian Bell, caught square driving Rasel to point.

The out of form Michael Vaughan had a lot to prove about his mere presence in the English One Day Side. There was a particular banner from a few fans in the stands which was asking for Vaughan's bat for their beach cricket as the England Captain wasn't using it! Vaughan was dropped by Mushfiqur Rahim, the keeper, who was standing upto the stumps to the bowling of Syed Rasel. Despite that life, the Captain could only go onto make 30 having scratched around for 59 balls. The wicket of Kevin Pietersen in the 23rd over by Razzak was the key between an easy win and a hard earned one. Mohammad Rafique provided some hope for the Tigers when he had snared the wickets of Freddie Flintoff (23 from 21 with 3 fours and a six) and Ravi Bopara in the space of three balls. England were 110 for 6 and they could only get to the 144 in the 45th over! Paul Collingwood struggled to get his 23 unbeaten runs in 74 balls with just one four while Paul Nixon was positive enough to get his 20 from 39 balls with a four and a six.

Syed Rasel was nagging enough to end with 2 for 25 in 10 overs including three maidens. Interestingly England played out as many as 10 maidens! The Man of the Match award went to Saj Mahmood for his destruction in the first half. Bangladesh wouldn't be too disappointed with their efforts today, after all their teenage batsmen were put to test on a difficult wicket. For England, their chances of making it to the Semis is still on but it will mean that they first win their remaining two matches against South Africa and West Indies and leave the rest to their luck.

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