England crush Bangladesh by 137 runs to record first win in World Cup

Dharamsala: Defending champions England flexed their muscles to crush Bangladesh by 137 runs and record their first win in the World Cup with Dawid Malan smashing a 107-ball 140, here on Tuesday.

After posting a formidable 364 for nine, Reece Topley (4/43) ran through Bangladesh’s top order as they could muster only 227 in 48.1 overs, with Litton Das (76) and Mushfiqur Rahim (51) standing out in a largely disappointing batting show.

England’s batting stars Malan, Jonny Bairstow (52) and Joe Root (82) contributing significantly in the first half of the contest to take their team to a mammoth total.

It was a game of contrasting halves, where England’s mighty batting power served a reminder to its rivals in the first half, while in the second, Bangladesh wilted after taking some early blows and could muster a mere 67 runs in the last 18.1 overs, losing five wickets.

Bangladesh could never recover after Topley struck thrice at the start of their chase, which derailed the Asian side and forced them into a damage-control mode.

For the remainder of the innings, Bangladesh’s approach was conservative, lacking any signs of a fight-back or taking the attack to the opposition even as the run-rate surged.

Tanzid Hasan (1) played an ordinary shot to be caught at slip off Topley, while Najmul Hossain Shanto did no better when he played one away from the body to be caught at point for a first-ball duck.

Topley then bamboozled Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan (1) as he got one past his defence to hit the off-stump and reduce the rivals to 26 for three inside the first six overs.

With the top order blown away, Das did well to make a 66-ball 76 — studded with seven fours and two sixes — to wage a lone battle, while adding 72 for the fifth wicket with senior pro Rahim.

But with not much batting left in the tank, Rahim dropped the anchor and played a knock that lacked any signs of acceleration. His vigil ended when Topley had him caught at third man, after a 64-ball 51 laced with four fours.

The intent to attack was also missing in Towhid Hridoy’s (39 off 61 balls, 2x4s) innings. The batter got his first boundary off the 27th delivery he faced. It was more of a gift as Topley had strayed down the leg side.

With Rahim dismissed at the score of 164 after 31 overs, Bangladesh crossed the 200-run mark as late as in the 43rd over and were soon bundled out.

Earlier, Malan continued his dream run in ODIs with a disdainful hundred against a hapless Bangladesh, propelling England to a commanding 364 for nine.

After a subdued batting show against New Zealand in the opening match, Malan’s 107-ball 140 became the cornerstone of England’s sizeable total after Bangladesh elected to bowl.

Bangladesh bowlers could not repeat their impressive showing against Afghanistan in the previous game.

Malan added 115 for the opening wicket with Jonny Bairstow (52 off 59 balls) and another 151 in just 19.3 overs with Joe Root (82 off 68 balls) to set up the big total.

Bangladesh bowlers did make some sort of a comeback during the back-end of the innings as England, in a mini-slump, lost seven wickets for 68 runs, which prevented them from touching the 400-run mark.

Brief scores:

• England 364/9 in 50 overs (Jonny Bairstow 52, Dawid Malan 140, Joe Root 82; Shoriful Islam 3/75, Mahedi Hasan 4/71).
• Bangladesh: 227 all out in 48.2 overs (Litton Das 76, Mushfiqur Rahim 51; Reece Topley 4/43).