England v Bangladesh
Wisden's review of the first match, England v Bangladesh
Lawrence Booth
09-Apr-2018
At The Oval, June 1. England won by eight wickets. Toss: England.
The Champions Trophy started as it hoped to go on, with a full house, two totals above 300 and a pair of sparkling centuries. England prevailed easily enough in the end, with Root hobbling through cramp to a career-best 133 not out from 129 balls. But victory came at a price: Woakes strained his left side after bowling only two overs, and next day was ruled out of the tournament. His departure disturbed the hosts' equilibrium. While Tamim Iqbal - who brushed aside a verbal volley from Stokes - and Mushfiqur Rahim were adding 166 for the third wicket, England missed the variations of Adil Rashid, left out because Morgan felt his opponents would be less comfortable against the pace of Ball. In the event, he went for 82, and it needed Plunkett - who, with successive deliveries in the 45th over, removed Tamim for a regal 128 and Mushfiqur for 79 - to prevent a total of around 330. When Roy continued his slump, ramping Mashrafe bin Mortaza to short fine leg in the third over, Bangladesh's vocal fans began to dream. But Hales and Root put on 159 and, though Hales perished for 95 at deep square leg, aiming for a second successive six, Morgan helped finish things off with a vivacious unbeaten 61-ball 75. Tamim was convinced he had caught him low down at long-on when Morgan had 22, but the soft signal was not out, and the replays were inconclusive. It was Bangladesh's final flicker, and Root's tenth one-day international century ensured England became the first team in the Champions Trophy to chase down more than 300.
Man of the Match: J. E. Root. Attendance: 22,243.
The Champions Trophy started as it hoped to go on, with a full house, two totals above 300 and a pair of sparkling centuries. England prevailed easily enough in the end, with Root hobbling through cramp to a career-best 133 not out from 129 balls. But victory came at a price: Woakes strained his left side after bowling only two overs, and next day was ruled out of the tournament. His departure disturbed the hosts' equilibrium. While Tamim Iqbal - who brushed aside a verbal volley from Stokes - and Mushfiqur Rahim were adding 166 for the third wicket, England missed the variations of Adil Rashid, left out because Morgan felt his opponents would be less comfortable against the pace of Ball. In the event, he went for 82, and it needed Plunkett - who, with successive deliveries in the 45th over, removed Tamim for a regal 128 and Mushfiqur for 79 - to prevent a total of around 330. When Roy continued his slump, ramping Mashrafe bin Mortaza to short fine leg in the third over, Bangladesh's vocal fans began to dream. But Hales and Root put on 159 and, though Hales perished for 95 at deep square leg, aiming for a second successive six, Morgan helped finish things off with a vivacious unbeaten 61-ball 75. Tamim was convinced he had caught him low down at long-on when Morgan had 22, but the soft signal was not out, and the replays were inconclusive. It was Bangladesh's final flicker, and Root's tenth one-day international century ensured England became the first team in the Champions Trophy to chase down more than 300.
Man of the Match: J. E. Root. Attendance: 22,243.