Cricket update - England beat http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747 by 144 runs to win the NatWest series 2-1
England bounced back hard after losing the 2nd ODI against Bangladesh, and wrapped up the series in style at Birmingham by winning the series decider by 144 runs.
England captain Andrew Strauss led from the front with a brilliant ton at the top of the order; Jonathan Trott the man who almost took England to win in the 2nd match was in form once again and piled up a classy hundred. England posted a massive score of 347 in the first innings, and later it was Bopara who followed up his brisk 45 runs with 4 wickets, but Captain Strauss claimed the man of the match and man of the series awards.
The visiting captain http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mashrafe-Mortaza-c1917 won the toss and elected to have a bowl first hoping that the pitch will offer some seam and swing. Surprisingly, his opposite number proved him horribly wrong.
Mortaza though for a brief moment may have thought his decision to send in the opposition was justified, when he knocked over Kieswetter for naught on the 4th ball of the first over.
However, from then on it was the Strauss and Trott show; the left right combination took the Bangladesh bowling to the task. Strauss was at his classy best and continued to punch the ball through the covers, while his instinctive pulls and cuts were all there. Trott has always been dubbed as a classic test player but he has shown that he can adapt to the limited overs game when needed, and he once again was in his elements keeping the ball along the carpet and a flurry of boundaries made sure that the run rate was kept up.
The pair put on a marathon stand of 250 runs in 40 overs, Trott was dismissed after scoring a magnificent 110, from 121 balls with 12 fours. He was caught by Shakib Al Hassan off the bowling of Mortaza. Strauss though continued to pile on runs and changed gears dramatically in the final overs smashing 5 sixes to get to 154 from 140 balls with 16 fours and 5 sixes.
On the other hand, the middle order was disappointing; Wright was dismissed on his first ball caught behind off Mortaza, the T-20 captain Collingwood only managed 8 runs from 7 balls he was caught by Ashraful off the bowling of Rubel.
Bopara finally got bat to ball and smashed 45 runs from just 16 balls, he smashed 4 big sixes and 2 boundaries.
England ended their innings at 347 for the loss of 7 wickets.
Bangladesh were obviously upbeat coming into this match after the sensational win in the 2nd ODI, but all the momentum and high hopes would have been brought down after the massive England score.
It looked as if they had given up hope at the half way mark, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Tamim-Iqbal-c2640 was the first to go in the 3rd over after scoring just 16 runs. His opening partner followed with 4 runs when he was caught behind off the bowling of Shahzad.
Junaid Siddiquie at number 3 did try to put up a little partnership alongside http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Jahurul-Islam-c1624 but the required rate was already over 8 and things were looking more than difficult for the visitors.
Junaid was dismissed after scoring 25 runs, while Jahurul fell for 27 and the downward slide continued with former Captain Shakib being run out for just 6 runs.
After that it was Bopara’s show; as he did a great job finishing up England’s batting he did the same with the ball in his hand and claimed 4 wickets for just 38 runs to wrap up the match and the series as Bangladesh were all out for just 203 runs. England won the 3 match series 2-1.
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