England bounced back from their crushing defeat to New Zealand with a dominant 137-run victory over Bangladesh in a thrilling World Cup clash held in Dharamsala on Tuesday.
England’s batting revival was led by the remarkable Dawid Malan, who showcased his prowess with an explosive 140 runs off 107 deliveries. His partnership with Jonny Bairstow at the top, which gave 115 runs, laid a solid foundation for England.
However, it was the partnership between Malan and the ever-reliable Joe Root that truly propelled the defending champions to a formidable total of 364-9. Root, displaying his trademark composure, contributed an impressive 82 runs from 68 balls.
At one point, England appeared poised to breach the 400-run mark, reaching 296-2 in the 40th over. But a late resurgence from the Bangladeshi bowlers curtailed England’s final 10 overs.
Nonetheless, England’s total proved more than sufficient, especially with Reece Topley stepping up to the plate with the ball.
Replacing all-rounder Moeen Ali, Topley made an immediate impact, picking up two crucial wickets in consecutive balls during the second over of the innings. His fiery spell continued as he dismissed Bangladesh’s captain, Shakib Al Hasan, for just one run in the sixth over.
Despite commendable efforts from Liton Das, who contributed a valiant 76, and Mushfiqur Rahim, who managed 51, the required run rate continued to surge beyond reach for Bangladesh.
Topley returned to dismiss Mushfiqur, concluding with impressive figures of 4-43, and Bangladesh ultimately crumbled to 227 all out in 48.2 overs.
England’s early batting prowess, including Jonny Bairstow’s significant 52 in his 100th ODI and Joe Root’s breezy 82, had set the stage for a resounding victory. The team’s bowlers, including Chris Woakes, who secured his first wicket of the tournament, made sure to capitalize on the advantage.
With this win, England not only redeemed themselves but also improved their net run rate, which had taken a hit against New Zealand. They now eagerly await their next challenge against Afghanistan.
Bangladesh, on the other hand, will face table-toppers New Zealand in Chennai on Friday. Their victory over Afghanistan in the World Cup opener remains a bright spot, but they will need to come back stronger to compete against the formidable Kiwis.
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