Vaughan shows class as England ease to victory

Michael Vaughan's most telling innings since he succeeded Nasser Hussain as England's captain carried his team to a seven-wicket win over Bangladesh at the end of a tortuous inaugural Test match at Dhaka. After Bangladesh's last four wickets fell in the first 45 minutes on the final morning, Vaughan led his team to victory with an unbeaten 81.

As England chased 164 Marcus Trescothick again provided early momentum, with both openers running positively and also benefiting from a shy at the stumps that rebounded off Trescothick to give him five. The Somerset left-hander profited further with a brace of boundaries off Mashrafe Mortaza, through point and straight.

Vaughan responded aggressively to the introduction of spin, with consecutive fours off the slow left armer Mohammad Rafique through midwicket and cover to push England's scoring rate past five an over. But with the target reduced to less than a hundred Trescothick perished for 27, stumped by Khaled Mashud as he came down the wicket to hit Rafique over the top.

Having avoided his pair Mark Butcher produced a beautifully timed on drive off Rafique to post his first boundary, and Vaughan drove the same bowler straight for another before greeting Enamul Haque Junior with a pedigree clip against the spin though midwicket. Butcher fell lbw to Rafique just before lunch, the ball keeping low as he tried to work it on the leg side.

After an edgy start following the interval - he was missed on five by the wicketkeeper off Haque - Hussain got into his stride with two offside boundaries, while Vaughan completed his first half century as England's captain. With 36 needed Hussain was given out lbw to Mortaza, but Graham Thorpe kept the assured Vaughan company as England eased to victory.

Bangladesh's hopes of extending England's target to around the 200 mark were dashed by Stephen Harmison and Matthew Hoggard, who took two wickets each for ten runs. It took them nine overs to end the innings. Harmison made the vital first breakthrough by pinning the hosts' captain Khaled Mahmud lbw for 18, ending a seventh-wicket partnership of 29. An away swinger accounted for Mohammad Rafique, Chris Read taking a low catch off the resulting edge.

Hoggard responded with two strikes of his own in the next over. First another outswinger to Mortaza gave Trescothick his third slip catch of the innings, and number 11 Enamul Haque Junior was lbw to his second ball, leaving Mushfiqur Rahman high and dry on 46. Hoggard finished with four wickets for 48 (seven for 103 in the match) while Harmison had four for 44. The Durham fast bowler was deservedly made Man of the Match for his overall figures of nine for 79.