Bangladesh Cricket: England pip BCB XI by 4 wickets

England defeated BCB XI by four wickets with 23 balls remaining in the warm-up match against BCB XI today at Khan Shaheb Osman Ali stadium, Fatullah.

Chasing a stiff target 310, England rode on the sixth-wicket stand of 139 in 16.5 overs between Moeen Ali and Josh Buttler to coast home in the end. Moeen scored 70 from 51 with eight fours and two sixes to his name. Josh was unbeaten on 80. He played only 64 balls, smashed three fours and four massive sixes in his belligerent knock.

For Bangladesh, Ebadat Hossain was the highest wicket-taker with two wickets in five overs for 26 runs. Al-Amin Hossain, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Shuvagata Hom and Sunzamul Islam took a wicket each. 

Left handed Bangladesh opener Imrul Kayes gave the English bowlers a rude awakening in the first outing of their tour by smashing a century in the 50-over warm-up match for BCB XI earlier today.

Imrul was in imperious form and gave his side a terrific platform to accelerate late in the innings. His knock of 121 in only 91 balls contained 11 fours and six massive hits over the fence.

England pacers Chris Woakes and David Willey were at the receiving end when Imrul began his innings blazing away like a man possessed. When the spinners, Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali were introduced into the attack, Imrul didn’t let them settle down and immediately went on the offensive. Using his feet, the Bangladesh batsman kept taking the ones and twos while dispatching anything loose.

His whirlwind knock finally came to an end in the 29th over when he was bowled by Willey. The England bowler struck the stumps after being smashed for two sixes in the over.

Mushfiqur Rahim was dismissed after reaching his fifty in the 41 over. Nasir Hossain could not reach his half-century when he was sent back for 46 by Ben Stokes.

BCB XI managed to reach 309 in 50 overs for the loss of nine wickets. After Imrul’s burst at the top, Mushfiqur and Nasir got going but were dismissed at the worst possible time for BCB XI, and the English bowlers fought back late in the innings with regular breakthroughs to keep their side in the game.

Chris Woakes was the most successful bowler for the visitors with three wickets for 52 in nine overs. David Willey and Ben Stokes took two wickets each.

Score

BCB XI: 309/9 (50 overs)

England XI: 313/6 (46.1 overs)

England XI won by 4 wickets (with 23 balls remaining)