Irani sets up England win Bangladesh

[PRINCE_SAQI_IS_BACK]

Ronnie Irani's century paved the way to a comfortable 77-run win over Bangladesh as England warmed up for their first match at the ICC Champions Trophy in Colombo.

The Essex all-rounder made exactly 100 before giving a return catch to spin bowler Mohammed Rafique, having shared a fourth wicket stand of 115 with new boy Ian Blackwell (58).

England totalled 265 for seven in their 50 overs and then bowled out Bangladesh for 188.

They play their opening Champions Trophy pool match against Zimbabwe on Wednesday.

Late change

Marcus Trescothick captained England with Nasser Hussain opting to rest and they were forced to make a late change to the side when Alec Stewart went down with a stomach bug.

Shah found himself in an unfamiliar role

Middlesex's Owais Shah was drafted into the team as an emergecny replacement with Trescothick, who kept wicket for England last winter, unwilling to risk re-injuring his recently mended thumb.

Trescothick opened the batting as usual, however, only to go for nine when he got a leading edge to a ball from Pahla Jubair and was caught at mid-off.

Partner Nick Knight reached 13 before he attempted to go down the wicket to Thaled Mahmud and was bowled.

But Irani and Shah repaired the damage with some sensible batting before the latter was run out for 45.

Blackwell's arrival in the middle saw the scoring rate improve, although the Somerset all-rounder was droopped twice - once at cover and once at long-on.

He was eventually caught behind off Tapash Baishya but Irani continued on to reach three figures - his first hundred in England colours, albeit in an unofficial fixture.

"I have learned a lot today. I know I have got a hundred, and it is a wonderful feeling - but there is more to it than that," Irani commented.

"It keeps lowhere, and you have to concentrate staying low in your stance, otherwise the ball is always hitting the bottom of the bat."

Bangladesh never seriously threatened England's target after Dominic Cork had picked up two for 10 in an excellent six-over spell.

Blackwell claimed three wickets with his left-arm spin and Shah gave the selectors food for through by effecting a leg-side stumping.


England innings:
M Trescothick c Omar b Jubair 9
N Knight b Mahmud 15
R Irani c & b Rafique 100
O Shah run out 45
I Blackwell c Mashud b Baishya 56
R Clarke run out 1
D Cork run out 12
J Snape not out 9
Extras 18
Total (for 7 wickets, 49 overs) 265

Did not Bat: J Kirtley, A Caddick, A Giles

Fall: 1-20 2-54 3-126 4-241 5-241 6-244 7-265

Bowling: Jubair 8-0-48-1, Bashar 10-0-61-1, Mahmud 6-0-30-1, Rafique 10-1-35-1, Baishya 10-1-46-0, Ashraful 5-0-39-0

Bangladesh innings:
Javed Omar c Snape b Giles 32
Al Sahariar c Knight b Cork 44
Mohammad Ashraful lbw b Cork 1
Habibul Bashar st Shah b Blackwell 35
Tushar Imran b Snape 16
Khaled Mashud lbw b Kirtley 10
Alok Kapil run out 2
Khaled Mahmud not out 30
Mohammad Rafique c Trescothick b Blackwell 0
Taposn Baishya c Knight b Blackwell 0
Tahla Jubair b Caddick 0

Extras 18
Total (all out, 49.4 overs) 188

Fall: 1-65 2-70 3-75 4-111 5-138 6-139 7-148 8-155 9-186

Bowling: Caddick 9.4-0-22-1, Kirtley 9-0-25-1, Giles 7-0-38-1, Cork 8-0-30-2, Snape 7-0-38-1, Irani 4-0-15-0, Blackwell 5-0-17-3.