Andrew Strauss sets England up for victory over Bangladesh
Centuries to Andrew Strauss and Jonathan Trott have ensured England is in the box seat to win the third and final match of the ODI series against Bangladesh, who must chase down an imposing 348-run target to claim victory in both the match and the series.
After suffering a shock loss to the visitors in the second match of the series– their first defeat by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747 in any format of the game – the 250-run second wicket partnership has left Bangladeshi hopes of an unlikely series victory against England in tatters.
Strauss plundered 154 runs to reach his highest ODI innings total as he played an all-important captain’s knock, until an attempted drive headed skyward before landing safely in the hands of his opposite number in Shakib Al http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Hasan-c61990.
After their victory in Bristol the visitors entered this match with an unchanged line-up, and after winning the toss and sending England in to bat made an immediate breakthrough when opener http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mashrafe-Mortaza-c1917 delivery onto his stumps.
From there, however, Strauss and Trott scored runs against some below-par Bangladesh bowling with almost casual ease: the skipper bringing up his century in the 35th over of the innings and Trott reaching his maiden ODI ton with a well-driven four just three overs later, in the process going some way to making amends for his dismissal for 94 in the previous match with his side’s chances of victory resting on his bat.
Trott’s innings finally came to an end on 110, with Mortaza taking his second wicket for the day thanks to a fine diving catch by Shakib, and gaining his third wicket the next ball when Luke Wright (duck) edged him to the keeper after arriving at the crease with the singular intention of keeping the runs flowing in the batting PowerPlay.
Paul Collingwood could well have completed the hat trick for the bowler when he offered up a leading edge the next ball, his shot landing safely out of range of a fielder more by good luck than good management. After adding eight runs to his team’s total, however, Collingwood made his exit, with Eoin Morgan (one) joining the growing list of Strauss’ batting partners who had come and gone from the crease the next over.
Strauss finally joined them back in the pavilion in the 46th over, after having set his side up for a 300-run-plus total, with 45-run a cameo by Ravi Bopara seeing England to an impressive total of 347-7.
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