England rip up the form book against Bangladesh

Bangladesh 155 (48.2 overs); England 156-5 (43.3 overs). England won by five wickets.

England ripped up the form book in astonishing fashion to beat Bangladesh by five wickets and propel themselves into the Super League semi-finals.

England went through an entire tour of Bangladesh in November and December without winning a single one of their 11 matches and came into this quarter-final clash off the back of a defeat to Zimbabwe.

But presented with a knock-out situation, Moeen Ali's side responded superbly, first bowling out previously unbeaten Bangladesh for 155 and then knocking off the runs for the loss of five wickets in 43.3 overs.

They now play India in a day-night game at the R.Premadasa Stadium on Wednesday knowing they are just two wins away from lifting the World Cup.

For Bangladesh, there is the disappointment of expectation unfulfilled and they have to be content with a place in the Super League lower-place play-off semi-final where they face the West Indies at the Sinhalese Sports Club, also on Wednesday.

The architects of England's win were the bowlers with the spinners, so often England's most reliable performers in this tournament, leading the way.

Left-armer Graeme White led the way with the astonishing figures of 1-11 in 10 overs, fellow left-armer Nick James took 1-23, Ali took 1-25 and Rory Hamilton-Brown captured 1-15.

"Graeme's spell was unbelievable," said Ali afterwards. "To have a bowler perform like that is unreal and Nick James played his part too.

"In the warm-up matches we bowled out India, one of the tournament favourites, cheaply and I thought then if we could do that against them then we could do it against anyone.

"We just looked to build up the pressure today and Bangladesh probably let us bowl to them a little bit," he added.

The win was sweet revenge for England after their tour of torment last year and Ali was almost overcome when he said: "It is almost too hard to explain what this means because this victory is something we have wanted for ages."

Only two Bangladesh batsmen, captain Mushfiqur Rahim (27) and Md. Shamsur Rahman (22) topped 20 but the Tigers gave themselves a fighting chance of victory when their last three wickets added 36.

Steven Mullaney eventually mopped up the tail to finish with 3-26 while Andy Miller picked up 2-24 and Huw Waters, who had to leave the field when he suffered severe stomach cramps, took 1-22.

Waters had returned to the side, along with opener Mark Stoneman, after missing the defeat against Zimbabwe on Friday because of an upset stomach.

Bangladesh's batting woes forced them to call up their super sub Sirajullah Khadem in place of opening bowler Dollar Mahmud and he made 17 batting at number nine, with two fours and a six from just 18 balls.

With the pressure of a knock-out scenario, even an apparently modest score was not going to be easy to chase and it looked a mountain to climb when Stoneman was dismissed for just two.

But at that point Mark Nelson, a player drafted into the squad following that disastrous Bangladesh tour, came in and took the initiative away from the bowlers.

He clobbered 32 from 25 balls with two fours and three sixes, and with Varun Chopra, the captain of that ill-fated trip, making a responsible 40, Ali scoring 24 and Hamilton-Brown making an unbeaten 23, England eased home with plenty in hand.

"Mark hit his second ball out of the ground and that really got us going," said Ali.

"And the win was brilliant for Varun. He has been very good because he must have been disappointed (to lose the captaincy) but for him to bat the way he did was a captain's dream."

And can England now defy the odds again and beat the tournament favourites India?

"We beat them in the warm-ups and I think it will be good to play them," said Ali.

"We went to India last winter and got smashed so it would be good to get one over on them."