Yahoo Finance T20 World Cup: England thrash Bangladesh by eight wickets as dream start to tournament continues
After a clinical performance with the ball, in the field and then with the bat, England romped to their second simple victory of the T20 World Cup, swatting Bangladesh aside by eight wickets.
A punchy knock of 61 from 38 balls from Jason Roy – playing his 50th T20 international – saw England ease to their target of 125. Having beaten the West Indies so handsomely in their opener, England’s net run rate remains extremely strong, having made it home with 35 balls to spare.
This being a day game, with evening dew not a factor, the toss was less decisive. It was still a slight surprise that Bangladesh skipper Mahmudullah opted to bat first, allowing England to chase, as they prefer to. In truth, Bangladesh put in such a limp showing in the first ever T20i meeting between the sides that perhaps it did not matter what they did first. Their hopes of making the semi-finals are effectively over after two matches.
England wasted little time getting stuck into Bangladesh’s top order. Liton Das looked to attack Moeen Ali, taking two boundaries from the off-spinner’s first over. But in Moeen’s second, Liton picked out the fielder in the deep on the legside. Next ball, his opening partner Mohammad Naim Sheikh was caught at mid-off.
Moeen and Chris Woakes shared the entire powerplay and, in its final over, Woakes was rewarded for a tight spell with the wicket of Shakib Al Hasan. Adil Rashid took a terrific diving catch at short fine leg and Bangladesh were just 27 for three after six overs.
Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah set about a cautious rebuild. The introduction of Liam Livingstone’s mixed spin saw a wicket fall in each of his first three overs. First, he trapped Mushfiqur lbw, then Mahmudullah was caught at backward point. Between times, Afif Hossain was run out by Tymal Mills, looking for a second after a misfield. It was little surprise that Bangladesh suffered a comical run out, given some other near-misses.
From 83 for six, Bangladesh never looked like posting a competitive score. So despite taking 17 runs from the 19th over, wrecking Rashid’s figures, they were still able to set England 125 to win. Mills produced terrific 18th and 20th overs, picking up three lower-order wickets. While their spinners are performing superbly, the return to T20is of Mills and Woakes will be delighting England.
Roy hit the first ball – from left-arm spin, his supposed weakness – for four, and he broke the back of the chase.
Roy and Jos Buttler made an aggressive start, full of early boundaries. But Buttler, having swiped a handsome six down the ground, was caught in the deep in the fifth over.
Dawid Malan, having dropped down the order against the West Indies, joined Roy, and was quite happy in a supporting role as the Surrey opener launched boundaries all round the wicket. He was caught on the fence at third as he launched into all-out attack, but Jonny Bairstow joined Malan to complete the rout.
For a second game in a row, they were barely tested.
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