Fearless Bangladesh down England

Updated at: 2148 PST,  Friday, March 11, 2011

CHITTAGONG: Bangladesh's ninth-wicket pair of Mohammad Mahmudullah and Shafiul Islam hammered 58 runs to send England crashing to a two-wicket defeat in the World Cup on Friday.The Tigers appeared down for the count when they plunged to 169-8 in the 40th over chasing a modest target of 226 in the day-night game at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium in Chittagong.But Mahmuddullah (21 not out) and Shafiul (24 not out) conjured an unlikely victory in front of 18,000 screaming home fans to resurrect Bangladesh's campaign in the tournament they are co-hosting with India and Sri Lanka.Bangladesh, who have four points from as many games, must still beat the Netherlands and power-packed South Africa in their remaining matches to ensure a place in the quarter-finals from Group B.England remained on five points from five matches, a point behind the West Indies who have played a game less.Opener Imrul Kayes top-scored with 60, adding 82 runs for the fourth wicket with skipper Shakib Al Hasan (32), to lift the home side to 155-3 in the 31st over.England hit back to take five wickets for 14 runs, before Mahmuddullah and Shafiul smashed pace and spin alike to seal a dramatic win with one over to spare.England paid dearly for bowling 23 wides as the late evening dew made it difficult for bowlers to grip the ball.Jonathan Trott and Eoin Morgan were the only England batsmen to defy Bangladesh's spinners, scoring half-centuries before their team was dismissed for 225 in the final over.Trott hit 67 and left-hander Morgan, who arrived in Chittagong on Tuesday to replace the injured Kevin Pietersen, made an immediate impact with a fluent 63 off 72 balls.The duo put on 109 for the fourth wicket after England, sent in to bat by Shakib on a sluggish pitch, slipped to 53-3 in the 17th over.The partnership was broken by a brilliant catch from Kayes, who dived in front at deep square-leg to hold the ball after Morgan skied a sweep against off-break bowler Naeem Islam.Morgan's dismissal triggered a collapse in which England lost their last seven wickets for 63 runs after being well-placed at 162-3 in the 39th over.Naeem finished with 2-29 from eight overs, and left-arm spinners Abdur Razzak and Shakib also claimed two wickets each.Matt Prior, England's new opener in place of Pietersen, made 15 when he was dismissed in bizarre fashion, stumped by his Bangladesh counterpart Mushfiqur Rahim off Razzak's first delivery.Rahim removed the bails off a wide ball down the leg-side, but even though Prior had dragged his back foot in just in time, he again wandered out of his crease.Seeing the batsman out of his ground, a quick-thinking Rahim pulled out a stump to ensure the decision, which was referred to the TV umpire, went in his favour.Bangladesh next play the Netherlands in Chittagong on Monday, while 

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Trott, Morgan rally England as Tigers strike

Updated at: 1739 PST,  Friday, March 11, 2011

CHITTAGONG: Jonathan Trott and Eoin Morgan defied Bangladesh's rampaging spinners with half-centuries as England were bowled out for 225 in the World Cup Group match on Friday.Trott hit 67 and left-hander Morgan, who arrived in Chittagong on Tuesday to replace the injured Kevin Pietersen, made an immediate impact with a fluent 63 off 72 balls.The duo put on 109 for the fourth wicket after England, sent in to bat on a sluggish pitch at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium, slipped to 53-3 in the 17th over.The partnership was broken by a brilliant catch from Imrul Kayes, who dived in front at deep square-leg to hold the ball after Morgan skied a sweep against off-break bowler Naeem Islam.None of the other batsmen lasted long against the Bangladesh spinners as Naeem finished with 2-29 and left-armers Abdur Razzak and skipper Shakib Al Hasan also claimed two wickets each.A sell-out crowd of 18,000 backed the Tigers in the day-night game that Bangladesh must win to stay in realistic contention for a place in the quarter-finals.A victory for England, who have five points from four previous games, will ensure them a berth in the knock-out rounds.England picked Matt Prior to open the batting with skipper Andrew Strauss in place of Kevin Pietersen, who has returned home to undergo a hernia operation.The wicket-keeper made 15 when he was dismissed in bizarre fashion, stumped by his Bangladesh counterpart Mushfiqur Rahim off Razzak's first delivery.Rahim removed the bails off a wide ball down the leg-side, but even though Prior had dragged his back foot in just in time, he again wandered out of his crease Seeing the batsman out of his ground, a quick-thinking Rahim pulled out a stump to ensure the decision, which was referred to the TV umpire, went in his favour.England made three changes from the side that beat South Africa by six runs in Chennai on Sunday.Morgan and Ajmal Shahzad replaced the injured Pietersen and Stuart Broad, while seasoned all-rounder Paul Collingwood came in for Michael Yardy.Bangladesh, who fell for their lowest total of 58 against the West Indies in the previous match, dropped former captain Mohammad Ashraful to play all-rounder Mohammad Mahmudullah.

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Ireland beaten by Windies after good fightback

Updated at: 1706 PST,  Friday, March 11, 2011

MOHALI: Big-hitting Kieron Pollard nudged West Indies closer to the World Cup quarter-finals on Friday as Bangladesh were locked in a knife-edge struggle for survival against England.Pollard hammered 94 off just 55 balls and shared an 88-run stand with Devon Smith (107), who hit a maiden one-day century, as West Indies posted 275 before bowling out the Irish for 231 for a 44-run win in Mohali Pollard belted eight fours and five sixes to frustrate the Irish who won the toss and put the Caribbean side into bat on an easy-paced track at the Punjab Cricket Association stadium.Pollard also took a memorable catch to send back Irish dangerman Kevin O'Brien for five off seamer Darren Sammy, who returned impressive figures of 3-31 off his 10 overs.Ed Joyce, who played for England in the 2007 World Cup, made a 106-ball 84, containing nine fours and put on 109 for the fourth wicket with Gary Wilson (61).The win took West Indies to six points from four Group B outings while Ireland, with one win from four matches, now must beat South Africa and the Netherlands to have any hope of progressing.Smith also shared 89 runs with Shivnarine Chanderpaul, opening the innings after Chris Gayle was ruled out on the morning of the match with an abdominal strain.Kevin O'Brien, who struck World Cup's fastest hundred against England, showed he had the skills with the ball as well, grabbing a career-best 4-71.Ireland fast bowlers kept things tight in the first 15 overs and did well in the last seven overs, taking the last five West Indies wickets for 53 runs.The Irish had to wait till the 25th over to pick their first wicket when Chanderpaul (35) chipped O'Brien to short extra cover where captain William Porterfield took a low catch.O'Brien struck again three balls later in the same over when he uprooted the middle-stump of Darren Bravo before the promising left-hander could even get off the markLeft-arm spinner George Dockrell, introduced into the attack late in the 30th over, had Ramnaresh Sarwan caught in the deep for 10 to reduce the West Indies to 130-3 Ireland were left to rue missed chances against Pollard who was let off twice early in his innings with John Mooney messing up a simple run-out chance and Gary Wilson grassing a catch off Andre Botha.

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Bangladesh elect to field against England

Updated at: 1327 PST,  Friday, March 11, 2011

CHITTAGONG: Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan won the toss and opted to field against England in a World Cup Group B match here at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium on Friday.England made three changes to the squad that beat South Africa on Sunday. While opener Kevin Pietersen and pace bowler Stuart Broad have returned home injured, all rounder Michael Yardy was also dropped. Pietersen's replacement Eoin Morgan was playing his first World Cup match for England after flying into the country just three days ago while Paul Collingwood was also back after missing the last match with a knee problem. Fast bowler Ajmal Shahzad was picked instead of Yardy.Bangladesh made only one change to the squad that was humiliated in a nine-wicket defeat by West Indies last week. Mahmudullah replaced Mohammad Ashraful in the playing XI.Both teams need to win Friday's match to boost their chances of a quarter-final berth.Teams: Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Junaid Siddique, Raqibul Hasan, Shakib Al Hasan (captain), Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, Naeem Islam, Abdur Razzak, Shafiul Islam, Rubel Hossain England - Andrew Strauss, Matt Prior, Jonathan Trott, Ian Bell, Eoin Morgan, Ravi Bopara, Paul Collingwood, Tim Bresnan, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Ajmal Shahzad.

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West Indies set 276-run target for Ireland

Updated at: 1306 PST,  Friday, March 11, 2011

MOHALI: Opener Devon Smith hit a maiden one-day international century and Kieron Pollard smacked 94 off just 55 balls as West Indies posted 275 all out against Ireland in their World Cup Group B match here on Friday Smith hit a 133-ball 107 and Pollard belted eight fours and five sixes to frustrate the Irish who won the toss and put the Caribbean side into bat on an easy-paced track at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium.Smith also shared 89 runs with Shivnarine Chanderpaul, opening the innings after Chris Gayle was ruled out on the morning of the match with an abdominal strain.Kevin O'Brien, who struck World Cup's fastest hundred against England, showed he had the skills with the ball as well, grabbing a career-best 4-71.A victory for West Indies will virtually assure them of a place in the quarter-finals while Ireland can keep their last-eight hopes alive if they manage to pull off an upset win.Ireland fast bowlers kept things tight in the first 15 overs and did well in the last seven overs, taking the last five West Indies wickets for 53 runs.The Irish had to wait till the 25th over to pick their first wicket when Chanderpaul (35) chipped O'Brien to short extra cover where captain William Porterfield took a low catch.O'Brien struck again three balls later in the same over when he uprooted the middle-stump of Darren Bravo before the promising left-hander could even get off the mark.Left-arm spinner George Dockrell, introduced into the attack late in the 30th over, had Ramnaresh Sarwan caught in the deep for 10 to reduce the West Indies to 130-3.Ireland were left to rue missed chances against Pollard who was let off twice early in his innings with John Mooney messing up a simple run-out chance and Gary Wilson grassing a catch off Andre Botha.Pollard punished the Irish, hitting O'Brien for two sixes in four balls to race to his third ODI half-century off 35 balls.O'Brien returned to take two more wickets, again in the same over, to dismiss Smith and Darren Sammy while John Mooney sent back Pollard and Andre Russell in two balls.

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England poised to kill off Bangladesh hopes

Updated at: 1147 PST,  Friday, March 11, 2011

NEW DELHI: England can deliver a potentially fatal bodyblow to Bangladesh's World Cup dreams on Friday and virtually ensure their place in the quarter-finals.Andrew Strauss's side, reeling from the double loss through injury of batting superstar Kevin Pietersen and strike bowler Stuart Broad, have endured a rollercoaster campaign.A win over the Netherlands was followed by a tie against India, a shock defeat to Ireland and a tense, gritty six-run win over South Africa where they defended just 171.Bangladesh, hoping to exploit spin-friendly conditions by playing all of their group games on home soil, have been in turmoil, losing two of their three matches so far.Last week's nine-wicket loss to West Indies, when they were bowled out for a paltry 58, sparked violence and demonstrations in the streets as fans raged against a team who had high hopes of making the last eight.Defeat on Friday will leave the Tigers needing to beat South Africa to have any chance of staying in the competition while also hoping other results go their way."The boys are tense, but they are also confident that they can put up a good show," said Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan ahead of the day-night Group B game at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium in Chittagong."We have prepared well for the game. We have worked hard in the last few days. I have tried to take the pressure on myself, so it eases the pressure on them."Strauss is staying tight-lipped over his new opening partner for the game following the loss of Pietersen, who returned home to undergo hernia surgeryThe free-scoring Pietersen revelled in his new position, contributing to stands of 105, 68 and 91 in the first three games."I am very clear in my mind who will open, but will not say before the game has started," Strauss said. The choice is likely to be limited to Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara or wicket-keeper Matt Prior.
West Indies can help England's cause, as well as their own, by beating Ireland in Mohali in the early Group B game.Wins for West Indies and England will guarantee Strauss's team a last eighth place.

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Ireland win toss, put Windies into bat

Updated at: 0838 PST,  Friday, March 11, 2011

MOHALI: Ireland captain William Porterfield won the toss and decided to field first against the West Indies in their World Cup Group B match here at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium on Friday.West Indies ‘star opening batsman Chris Gayle was ruled out of the key clash with an abdominal strain and Ireland were without experienced all-rounder Trent Johnston, who is nursing a bruised knee..The West Indies have four points from three matches and Ireland have two from three games.A victory for West Indies will virtually assure them of a place in the quarter-finals while Ireland can keep their last-eight hopes alive if they pull off a win Teams: West Indies: Darren Sammy (captain), Andre Russell, Devon Smith, Darren Bravo, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Kieron Pollard, Devon Thomas, Sulieman Benn, Nikita Miller, Kemar Roach.Ireland: William Porterfield (captain), Alex Cusack, Niall O'Brien, Kevin O'Brien, George Dockrell, Andre Botha, John Mooney, Boyd Rankin, Paul Stirling, Gary Wilson, Ed Joyce.Umpires: Asoka de Silva (SL) and Shavir Tarapore (IND), TV umpire: Bruce Oxenford (AUS)Match referee: Roshan Mahanama (SL)

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