Bangladesh v England, 1st ODI, Dhaka

England 229 for 4 (Collingwood 75*, Cook 64) beat Bangladesh 228 (Tamim 125, Swann 3-32) by six wickets

As the most improved team in world cricket, Bangladesh may have fancied forcing an upset against a sub-strength England side captained by Alastair Cook, whose inability to whack the ball out of park has left him as an inconsistent pick in England's opening pair in the one-day game. Alas it was not to be!

Cook called correctly and put Bangladesh into bat, and for 9.2 overs it seemed Cook's first decision as captain had been a poor one. And with Shakib Al Hasan, the Bangladesh captain, implying that the pitch would remain low throughout, the visitors seemed to a have a real scrap on their hands. Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes put on 63 for the first wicket, Tamim showing real intent smashing seven fours and two humongous sixes off Ryan Sidebottom and then Stuart Broad, before Bresnan delivered a wily slower ball that found the wrong edge of Kayes's bat and was gratefully caught at mid on by Luke Wright.

Tamim continued to manipulate the English attack but two wickets from Broad in successive overs kept England right in it. Junaid Siddique gave his wicket away as Broad threw down some leg-side filth only for the Bangladeshi number three to mistime a shot straight to debutant Keiswetter at square leg. Aftab Ahmed was next to depart thanks to some stellar work from Pietersen, picking the ball up at mid on and sending the ball underarm into the stumps. His fielding has really become an integral part of his game, only two matches ago he produced a fine pick up and throw down to run out Imran Farhat and this is the man who could not catch for love or money in the Ashes winning summer of 2005. Newcomers to the game would have no idea that KP ever struggled with a part of the game that he now seems excel in. Bravo!

Nostalgia aside, Bangladesh continued in the same vain throughout the 'middle overs'. Tamim putting aside the failings of his fellow team mates, remaining impervious at the crease. Hasan provided brief company at the other end only to walk past a ripper from the 'Chin' Graeme Swann, whilst Mushfiqur Rahim was slightly more effective partnering Tamim for a full ten overs only to be run out in an embarrassing fiasco of miscommunication, a moment worthy of Owais Shah's scrapbook!

At 146 for 5 Bangladesh were in danger of falling well short of a competitive total and it did not get any better as 146 for 5 became 146 for 6, Swann finding more turn on a responsive surface and England profiting from another leading edge gobbled up at midwicket. However 63 from from ten and a half overs saw the hosts build a healthy platform for the crucial final ten, and Tamim well set they looked set for a sizeable total. England's seamers though kept plugging away and when Tamim went for a gutsy 125 the innings collapsed.

The tenth wicket of Abdur Razzaq lobbed tamely to captain Cook at mid-off, off the bowling of Sidebottom put the innings in perspective. It was a shame Tamim was never given the support he deserved, and his 125 was a rare moment of quality in an error-filled and an unintelligent batting effort from the home side. Swann maintained his fantastic form, tweaking out 3 victims for a mere 32 in his ten overs, whilst the pace attack shared five between them, their figures flattered by some wasteful batting, no seamer really showing the lethal touch that was required.

Having crumbled late on Bangladesh failed to bat out the 50 overs and finished 228 all out in 45.4 overs. All Cooks' men had to do was bat sensibly and victory would be assured. A straightforward task - Surely?

The 'Fortress' stands tall once again for England in their successful run chase

Image courtesy of cricinfo.com

England began timidly and were punished early on, Craig Keiswetter walking past one from Islam, and cleared up by Rahim behind the stumps, whilst Pietersen continued his poor form edging low to slip, and the 'captain Cook' was trapped unfortunately LBW also by the guile of Islam. Yet even with three premier scalps in under 20 overs, the Bangladeshi total still looked well within England's grasp.

And it was under the sturdy hand of 'the fortress' (my own nickname for the great man) Paul Collingwood that England cruised home to a six-wicket victory, and Bangladesh were unable to complete their first ever victory over the visitors. Colly played a mature innings amassing 75 not out from 100 balls, with 7 ugly, but important boundaries - his calmness and professionalism, much like Tamim only hours before, shone out in an shaky England batting and bowling performance that would have not likely held up against stronger opposition.

Tamim rightly took the man of the match award, but it came as little consolation as Bangladesh failed to capitalise on his stellar work. England's first victory under Alastair Cook resulted in a typically Cook-esque game - devoid of consistency and flair, but instead just doing enough to cross the line.