Perhaps Bangladesh's last six overs with the bat, a lack of a specialist bowler, along with a magnificent unbeaten hundred by an injured Joe Root denied the Tigers as England cantered to an eight-wicket win in the opening match of the 2017 Champions Trophy at Kennington Oval on Thursday.
Bangladesh posted their highest ever total against England, riding on opening batsman Tamim Iqbal's ninth hundred, but the formidable batting line-up of the home side ensured the Tigers would end up on the losing side.
The dependable Root, who hurt his ankle while batting, remained unbeaten on 133 runs off 129 balls with 11 fours and a six, opener Alex Hales added an 86-ball 95, featuring 11 boundaries and two sixes, while skipper Eoin Morgan was not out on 75 off 61 deliveries with the help of eight fours and two sixes.
England reached their target with 16 balls to spare after Bangladesh registered 305/6 in 50 overs.
Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe bin Mortaza picked up the early wicket of opener Jason Roy (one) after pace sensation Mustafizur Rahman took a sharp catch at short fine leg. But from there onwards, it was total English domination in the capital city.
Hales, alongside Root, added 159 for the second wicket as the Tigers bowlers looked helpless, despite no short of intent by the Bangladesh fielders.
The Bangladesh think tank opted for eight batters and four specialist bowlers, leaving out youngster Mehedi Hasan Miraz, as No 3 batsman Imrul Kayes was brought into the side. This decision paved the way for a few questions to be raised as Mashrafe had to use six bowlers inside the first 15 overs, including part-timer Soumya Sarkar in the 10th over.
Sabbir finally provided the all important breakthrough, dismissing Hales, who fell just five short of his sixth century.
It was then upto the Tigers to put some pressure on the opposition. And the opportunity also came as Tamim grasped a brilliant catch running in from long on. However, the catch was later turned down by the umpires.
With that said, in the overall context of the game, that would have probably not made any difference as Root was in no mood to throw away his wicket. He duly finished the match with rocket boundaries off consecutive balls.
Bangladesh's Tamim Iqbal acknowledges the crowd's applause after reaching his ninth century
DHAKA TRIBUNE/Md ManikEarlier, Bangladesh made a cautious start after Morgan asked the Tigers to bat first. Tamim and Soumya put up a good foundation before the latter departed after playing a rather shaky stroke. He made 28 off 34 balls.
Imrul struggled for his 20-ball 19 before wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim arrived to the crease. Mushfiq, along with Tamim, started to punish the England bowlers. The 28-year old Tamim played some delightful strokes all over the ground and eventually reached his ninth ton.
Mushfiq soon scored his 25th fifty as the pair added 166, Bangladesh's highest third wicket partnership away from home before Tamim was dismissed for 128 off 142 balls, composed with a dozen boundaries and three over boundaries, by seamer Liam Plunkett.
When Tamim departed, Bangladesh were batting on 261/3 in 44.3 overs but in the very next ball, Mushfiq also got out. From thereon, the Tigers were unable to cash in on the death overs, managing just 43 from their last five overs. Plunkett picked up four wickets for the bowling side.
The home side were dealt a major blow early in the Tigers' innings when paceman Chris Woakes had to leave the ground due to side strain injury after bowling only two overs. But that did not have any bearing on the game.
BRIEF SCOREEngland 308/2 in 47.2 overs (Root 133*, Hales 95, Morgan 75*) beat
Bangladesh 305/6 (Tamim 128, Mushfiq 79, Plunkett 4/59)
by eight wickets