Bangladesh v England, 3rd ODI, Chittagong

England 284 for 5 (Kieswetter 107) beat Bangladesh 239 for 9 (Aftab 46, Rahim 40, Bresnan 4-28) by 45 runs

England completed the much-expected whitewash over Bangladesh in Chittagong thanks to a mature maiden century from 22 year-old Craig Kieswetter. Often renowned amongst his fans at Somerset as a man eager to clear the ropes, Kieswetter instead provided much-needed solidity throughout England's innings, as his more experienced team mates failed to find any real fluency, the wicket-keeper-come-opener never allowed the hosts to settle into any rhythm and paved the way for a comfortable England victory.

Alastair Cook started brightly but again was undone by his opposite number Shakib Al Hasan, Cook trying to cut a flighted delivery only to feather an edgethrough to Mushfiqur Rahim who made no mistake. It seemed Kevin Pietersen had also failed to learn from his mistakes as Adbur Rassak once again trapped England's No. 3 in front despite a gigantic stride down the wicket. Paul collingwood and Eoin Morgan gave admirable support to Kieswetter both amassing 36, albeit Morgan's coming twice as quick, and as Luke Wright stepped up with only a handful of balls to go, he and Tim Bresnan took full advantage of England's dominant position and two fours and two sixes from the pint-sized pinch-hitter ensured the tourists finished with a sizeable 284 for 5 from their 50 overs.

Craig Kieswetter celebrates a wonderfully crafted hundred from 120 balls

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England's total was made to seem even more insurmountable as Yorkshire's 24 year-old Ajmal Shazhad removed the ever-explosive Tamim Iqbal in only his third ball in one-day cricket, the Bangladeshi opener slashing at a wide ball only to edge the ball to Tim Bresnan taking an athletic catch at third man. Bresnan was at the heart of the a action again now with the cherry in his hands, dismissing Imrul Kayes in the final ball of the first powerplay, wicket-keeper Matt Prior taking a superb catch diving forward to leave Bangladesh 40 for 2.

The hosts continued to battle admirably as Aftab Ahmed (46) and Mushfiqur Rahim (40) frustrated the England Attack. Unfortunately it was an error in communication that led to the breakthrough Ahmed glancing a ball from Graeme Swann straight to the man at square leg and charging to the other end where Mushfiqur was not interested, Ahmed left stranded halfway down. Five overs later and Mushfiqur was dismissed in almost equally disappointing circumstances, a well-timed sweep hit close enough to Bresnan at deep midwicket was gratefully gobbled up as the stocky Yorkshireman tumbled over the outfield.

Shakib Al-Hasan continued in the right spirit and was unlucky to have been adjudged LBW off the bowling of Pietersen, however by this point the rate was above ten runs per over and England managed to effectively restrict the likes of Suhrawadi Shuvo (11) and Naeem Islam (18) to ensure a 45 run victory.

Bresnan took the opportunity to notch up career best figures of 4 for 28, but it was Kieswetter who rightfully bagged the man-of-the-match award for setting up the whitewash. England had been effective but not clinical and at times the tourists were caught napping both with bat and ball. However some gritty individual displays coupled with Bangladesh's inability to hammer home an advantage proved the edge between these two sides.

Bangladesh v England, 2nd ODI, Mirpur

England 261 for 8 (Morgan 110*, Cook 60, Shakib 3-32, Razzak 3-52) beat Bangladesh 260 for 6 (Rahim 76, Kayes 63, Bresnan 3-51) by two wickets


After a relatively routine victory only days before England were subjected to a far greater examination in their second outing in Dhaka, and it fell to a steely Eoin Morgan to see the tourists home. Morgan was unflappable on his way to an unbeaten 110, and proved without doubt that his repertoire extended beyond cheeky reverse sweeps and spirited middle-order counter attacks.


England had failed to find a real cutting edge against the Tigers as Mushfiqur Rahim's wonderfully paced 76 paved the way for those around him as they posted a competitive 260 for 6 in their 50 overs. Rahim was ably supported by Imrul Kayes as he dropped anchor allowing for his more fluent partner to keep the board ticking. After Paul Collingwood completed a vintage catch to his right off the bowling of Graeme Swann the Bangladeshi batsman continued to frustrate the English attack.


Contributions down the order from Mahmudullah, Naeem Islam, and Suhrawadi Shuvo meant that only Luke Wright, who was given a full nine overs as Stuart Broad struggled with injury, was able to keep his economy below 5 runs an over. So at the half-way stage many inside the Shere Bangla National Stadium may have felt that this was Bangladesh's chance to level the series and set up a decider in Chittagong, all that was required was some tight bowing and they were certainly in with sniff.

Morgan showed great versatility constructing a crucial century to save England from defeat.

Image courtesy of cricinfo.com

And the scent of victory wafted ever-nearer as Craig Kieswetter and Kevin Pietersen were dismissed in single figures, the former caught low in the slips after advancing down the pitch to Shafiul Islam, whilst KP was not for the first time undone by slow left arm spin, playing all round a ball fro Abdur Razzak only to be struck plumb on the back leg. Things went from bad to worse as Razzak claimed his second victim, Collingwood, so impressive in his last outing again trapped in front attempting a dubious sweep, and when the captain Alastair Cook trudged off for a well crafted, but ultimately inadequate 60 from 61 balls England were in serious doo-doo. Enter Eoin Morgan.


Morgan together with Matt Prior managed to restore some order to England's chase, and a partnership of 90 swung the pendulum firmyl back in the tourists's favour. Even a lacklustre lower order display from the likes of Wright and Tim Bresnan could do little to deter Morgan who moved gracefully onto his maiden ODI century in England colours. The Bangladeshi bowlers had no answer to Morgan's ability to hit all round the wicket and alongside débutante James Tredwell England got over the line with an unlikely 7 balls to spare.


The dogged Irishman was rightfully handed the man-of-the-match for his efforts, and applauded by his team mates as he left the field. each and every one of them breathing a sigh of relief as on another day it could have been a very different story.