England 251 for 4 (Bell 84, Strauss 50) beat Bangladesh 250 for 9 (Siddique 51, Al Hasan 76) by 6 wickets.
A Comedy of Errors
If all Bangladesh could muster in the Test arena were brief moments of brilliance or an inspired session here and there, the more forgiving and fast-paced nature of the one day game it was possible would prove a more fruitful format. Early signs were promising for the Tigers, all top six batsmen reaching double figures including two half centuries from Junaid Siddique and Raqibul Hassan. But it was the former who fell crucially short of a big score, run out for 76 with three overs remaining. Raqibul guiding the ball to midwicket for an easy single, only for Faisal Hossain, Raqibul's runner, to be caught ball watching. Shakib set off from the non-striker's end but was surprised when he saw Faisal motionless, in confusion Shakib desperately ran back for his own crease while Faisal stutteres halfway down the track. The ball was sent in to Kieswetter, Raqibul grounding his own bat but to no avail as Faisal was nowhere to be seen, a comedy of errors that prevented the tourists posting a more challenging total on a good batting deck at Trent Bridge.
The Tortoise and the Hare
In reply England began positively, Kieswetter building on his impressive summer so far with a useful knock of 32 from 40, but it was his the England captain that was most adventurous crashing 50 off just 37 deliveries. The manner in which Strauss went about his business was a sure sign that he refuses to be typecast as a one-paced, methodical opening batsman only suited to Test cricket. It appears his assuredness in defence actually heightens the impact of his aggression, pouncing on anything marginally off-line Strauss never descends to recklessness but instead punishes the opposition for ill-discipline in spectacular fashion.
However, moments after raising his bat for his half century the England skipper was run out by Mahmadullah. Kieswetter dabbing one into the covers, Strauss calling for the single but tragically underestimating the accuracy of the throw not diving to make sure of the run and caught napping inches short of the crease. In the absence of Kevin Pietersen and Jonathan Trott, it was up to Ian Bell to negate the middle overs in the crucial number three position.
Joining Paul Collingwood initially, the pair manipulated the field expertly keeping the board ticking over at a healthy rate, Collingwood eventually succumbed to the left arm spin of Shakib Al Hasan making way for Eoin Morgan. Bell maintained a steady pace rotating the strike admirably in order to allow Morgan to flay the bat more willfully, the Irishman chipping in with a swift 23 from 26 deliveries including two fours and a six. It was left to Bell and Yardy to finish off the job with just under five overs remaining. The experience showed by Bell, who remained unbeaten on 84 underlined the entire England chase, a professional display from a confident group of cricketers who have yet to lose a series (or World cup competition) this year.
England v Bangladesh 2nd ODI, Natwest Series, at The County Ground July 10 2010.
Bangladesh 236 for 7 (Kayes 76, Shahzad 3-41) beat England 231 (Trott 94) by 5 runs.
Team Spirit
At the halfway stage there was a sense of deja vu about proceedings, Bangladesh having posted a below-par total were set the task of restricting, or most likely bowling out England if they were to claim victory. There was certainly no room for a patchy bowling effort and you felt that to win the game Bangladesh would require a high class team effort.
Rubel Hossain led by example claiming the scalps of openers Strauss and Kieswetter in consecutive overs to leave the home side 58 for 2 after nine overs. Collingwood survived the bowling Powerplay and was unlucky to be dismissed soon after by Abdur Razzak who was fortunate to see the finger raised for an appeal lbw. Seven balls later and England's middle order hero of late Eoin Morgan was sent back again by Razzaq for just one run. This time England had no complaints, the ball going on to hit the top of middle stump.
Yardy continued his nervy England career with a woeful 10 from 24 balls to take England over the hundred mark, Shakib outfoxing the Sussex allrounder, luring him into the pull shot only for the ball to slide under Yardy's bat and clatter into his offstump. Meanwhile Jonathan Trott went about his business providing much needed solidity to England's flailing run chase, his fifty coming off 91 deliveries, and as Luke Wright departed with over 15 overs remaining it was Trott who really held the key to what would now be a surprise defeat for England.
The bowlers provided little resistance, Stuart Broad providing some brief entertainment, his 21 featuring a four and a six. Ian Bell did return to the field despite a suspected broken foot, but with three balls to go and six runs remaining it was Trott, who required the same amount of runs for his century, who was last to go, the two Islams combining to force an edge from Trott's bat and complete a famous victory for Bangladesh. A wonderful effort and one that ensured the series would go down to a crucial decider at Edgbaston.
England v Bangladesh 3rd ODI, Natwest Series, at Edgbaston July 12 2010.
England 347 for 7 (Strauss 154, Trott 110, Mortaza 3-31) beat Bangladesh 203 (Bopara 4-38) by 144 runs.
Record Breakers
So one a piece and all to play for, and following a dramatic victory two days previous Bangladesh were on the brink of their first series win against England in history. As it turned out it was the hosts who entered the record books that afternoon, the immovable forces of Andrew Strauss and Jonathan Trott milking the Tigers for all they had notching up a second wicket partnership of 250, the highest ever in England's one day history, surpassing Strauss and Flintoff's 226 run partnership recorded against the West Indies at Lords in 2004. A nervy start soon became an enterprising double act lifting England from 1 for 1 to 251 for 2 four balls into the final ten overs of the innings Strauss and Trott playing against the grain of their stereotype.
Trott was powerful and precise in his shot selection and remained focused throughout while Bangladeshi heads slowly dropped unable to find a breakthrough for a whole 240 balls. It took a joint effort between captain and former captain to prise Trott from the wicket, the Warwickshire stalwart creaming a full delivery to midwicket where Shakib took an athletic catch, but not before Trott had notched up his first ever one day international century, and another under-pressure knock when his team was in need of inspiration.
At the other end Strauss compiled an innings he has been threatening to produce all summer. Having been run out in farcical circumstances two days ago the England captain was determined to cash in on this occasion creaming the Bangladesh bowlers to all parts for his remarkable 154. A strike rate of 110 underlined the brutality of Strauss's knock which included five rare sixes, his eighth of the summer, having only scored a further ten since his debut in 2003.
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