Cricket World Cup: England beat Bangladesh by 137 runs; register first win in the tournament

A fine hundred by opener Dawid Malan, his first in the World Cup, propelled England to a massive 364/9 against Bangladesh. England then bundled out Bangladesh for 227. This was England's first win in the ongoing World Cup.

Dharamsala: England put up a dominant show as they trounced Bangladesh by 137 runs to register their first win in the World Cup here on Tuesday.

Batting first, England rode on a belligerent 140 by opener Dawid Malan to post a massive 364/9 on the board and then skittled out Bangladesh for just 227 in their ICC World Cup 2023 group league fixture at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium.

Only opener Litton Das (76 runs) and wicket-keeper batter Mushfiqur Rahim (51 runs) showed some spine. Bangladesh were never the chase as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Once Rahim was dismissed, it was just a matter of time.

For England, left-arm pacer Reece Toply (4/43) was the pick of the bowlers. He was supported by all the other bowlers. Earlier, Batter Dawid Malan hit a superb 140 while Jonny Bairstow (55) and Joe Root (82) complemented with well-made fifties to propel defending champions England to a huge total of 364/9 against Bangladesh.

Malan had 16 hits to the fences and five over the fences for 140 off only 107 deliveries. Joe Root was shown the door after smacking eight boundaries and an overboundary. The duo stitched together a partnership of 151 runs for the second wicket after Malan and Bairstow (52 off 59 balls, 8x4s) shared a 115-run stand for the first wicket.

At a time when England was cruising ahead in pursuit of 400, Bangladesh bowlers pulled the strings somewhat and fought back with wickets at regular intervals in the last 10 overs of the England innings. Bangladesh offie Mahedi Hasan was the pick of bowlers with 4 wickets conceding 71 runs and left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam bagged three wickets.

Holders England lost the opening match of the ICC World Cup 2023 against last year's runners-up New Zealand in Ahmedabad while Bangladesh registered a comfortable win against Afghanistan.

Brief scores: England 364/9 in 50 overs (Dawid Malan 140, Joe Root 82, Jonny Bairstow 52; Shoriful Islam 3/75, Mahedi Hasan 4/71) vs Bangladesh 227 all out (Litton Das 76; Reece Topley 4/43).