Dawid Malan overcame Bangladesh’s much-vaunted spin attack, showing an unwavering resolve as England secured a three-wicket victory in the first of three-match ODI series at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium Wednesday.
The left-hand batter hit an unbeaten 114 off 145, smashing eight fours and four sixes to script the victory, giving England 1-0 lead in the series.
His fourth ODI century in just 16 matches, proved to be key as the Three Lions cantered to the victory with 212-7 in 48.4 overs after Bangladesh were bowled out for 209 in 47.2 overs.
The next best was debutant Will Jacks’ 26, who added 38-run with Malan after England were reduced to 65-4.
Bangladesh rode on Najmul Hossain Shanto’s 58 but England’s disciplined attack left the hosts at least 20 runs short.
The home side spins attack, which fashioned many victories at home yard proved to be tough to deal with.
Left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan (1-45) struck in the first over, dismissing Jason Roy (4) while another left-arm spinner Taijul Islam removed Phil Salt for 12.
Trusting his defense, Malan held together the innings astutely but other batters struggled against the spinners, much to the dismay of England fans.
Taijul who had figures of 3-54 had James Vince stumped for 6, before fast bowler Taskin Ahmed got the better of captain Jos Buttler with a delivery that carried extra bounce.
The partnership between Malan and Jacks was key in steadying the innings.
Malan brought up his fifty off 92 balls, punching a delivery of occasional spinner Shanto for a single but Bangladesh appeared to be in control after offspinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz had Jacks caught by Shanto at deep mid-wicket.
Malan paced the innings with calculative aggression that saw him bringing up his next fifty off just 42 balls as he drove Taskin for a boundary through mid-on for his fourth century off 134 balls.
Moeen Ali contributed with 14 while Adil Rashid accompanied him with 17 not out as Malan fittingly sealed the deal, hitting Shanto for a boundary through mid-on.
Earlier, Shanto struck his maiden half-century but that was not enough to give the side par total at Sher-e-Bangla Stadium.
Shanto carried his BPL form, where he top-scored with 516, to hit 58 off 82 against a much-vaunted bowling attack of England. The left-hand batter, who came to bat at No.3 position smote six boundaries in his innings.
Mahmudullah Riyad scored 31 off 48 with three fours and accompanied Shanto in 53-run partnership, the only fifty plus partnership in Bangladesh innings, for the fifth wicket stand.
Skipper Tamim Iqbal was the other notable scorer with 23 but after he chose to bat first, Bangladesh lost inform Liton Das (7).
After a shaky start, Liton looked to regain his touch by pulling fast bowler Chris Woakes over deep midwicket for six.
In immediate next delivery, which moved slightly, Liton played down wrong line to be trapped leg-before. His review went in vain.
Mark Wood undid Tamim with sheer pace, leaving Shanto to dig deep alongside Mushfiqur Rahim whose injudicious slog-sweep against googly off leg-spinner Adil Rashid cost his wicket for 16.
Shakib Al Hasan, who moved down for fifth position for the first time after 2017, also threw his wicket, trying slog-sweep Moeen Ali for 8.
With Bangladesh reeling at 106-4, Shanto and Mahmudullah appeared to be in control before Rashid (2-47) with another googly, got the better of the former.
Shanto could have gone for 4 had Roy not failed to cling onto catch off Jofra Archer bowling.
Wood, who ended with 2-34, removed Mahmudullah with another pacy delivery before Archer got into act.
Fresh from his six-wicket haul against South Africa, Archer was erratic in his first spell, conceding 23 runs for four overs. But in his next six overs, he gave away just 14 runs to take two wickets.
Moeen Ali followed Archer, Wood and Rashid to claim two wickets while Will Jacks took one.
