Paul Collingwood and Alastair Cook hit solid half-centuries to guide England to an emphatic six-wicket win over Bangladesh in the opening one-day international on Sunday.
Collingwood scored an unbeaten 75 and skipper Cook 64 as England surpassed Bangladesh’s modest total of 228 with four overs to spare in the day-night match for a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Tamim Iqbal earlier top-scored for Bangladesh with an attractive 120-ball 125 for his third one-day hundred, but his team still failed to set a stiff target.
Bangladesh introduced spin after just three overs on a slow pitch but Cook and debutant Craig Kieswetter (19) batted steadily to put on 73 for the opening wicket.
Off-spinner Naeem Islam (3-49) provided the breakthrough when he had Kieswetter stumped before left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan got a big wicket, having Kevin Pietersen (one) caught in the slips.
Cook’s responsible knock ended when he was trapped leg-before by Naeem after hitting six fours in his fourth half-century in one-dayers.
England looked under pressure at 96-3 but Collingwood and Eoin Morgan (33) kept the spinners at bay with their sensible knocks, adding 88 for the fourth wicket.
Morgan, who survived a stumping chance on 20 off spinner Mohammad Mahmudullah, was caught by Aftab Ahmed in the covers off Naeem but not before consolidating his team’s position.
Matt Prior remained unbeaten with 30.
Iqbal, who hit three sixes and 13 fours, was let off early in his innings after the hosts were put in to bat.
The left-handed opener, who was on 10 when dropped by Morgan in the covers off Ryan Sidebottom, paced his innings remarkably well before becoming the ninth man to be dismissed, bowled by fast bowler Stuart Broad.
He was involved in two useful stands, adding 63 for the opening wicket with Imrul Kayes (15) and as many runs for the seventh with Naeem (25).
England did well to restrict the hosts despite Iqbal’s century, with off-spinner Graeme Swann being the most impressive bowler with 3-32 off 10 tight overs.
Iqbal did not curb his strokes after being dropped as he hit a four off Sidebottom and then a six over long-on in the same over.
Sidebottom, giving away 21 runs in his opening three overs, was replaced with Broad who was also punished by the Bangladeshi opener in his first spell.
Iqbal smashed Broad for two successive fours and then a six over mid-wicket in the same over before racing to his half-century off just 32 balls.
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