Joe Root’s magnificent hundred and Alex Hales, Eoin Morgan’s hard-fought fifties set-up a convincing eight-wicket for England over Mashrafe Bin Mortaza-led Bangladesh, in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy opener on Thursday at the Kenningston Oval in London.
The left-handed promising Morgan remained unbeaten on 75 off 61 balls while Root, who played with a sore ankle, made things quite easier with the bat for England while remaining not out on 133 off 126, which is also his highest ODI score.
Interestingly, three Lions chased down the target of 306 in 47.2 overs which is also the highest successful run chase in the eight-team tournament since past seven editions.
Moreover, the previous best was 297 for three claimed by Sri Lanka against England at the same venue, in the seventh edition of 2013 ICC Champions Trophy.
Solid in defence, Root made his presence felt by playing some fines strokes. However, he was on the slower side to build up the innings in the middle overs before bringing his 10th One-day International century in his 89th ODI.
While shouldering the responsibility, the left-handed Eoin Morgan smashed a significant fifty while spending his quality time at the crease, in a bid to chase down the 300-plus target as he played elegantly on the off to register his 50 on 45th delivery by achieving a boundary.
Tamim Iqbal, who had a great time on-the-field, in 36th over thought he had completed a catch while leaping to his front at the long on, before on-field umpire put soft signal as not out after Eoin Morgan tried to wallop the ball, on the on-side.
Replays were not conclusive enough whether the palm was under the ball, as the TV umpire upheld the decision after front foot looked fine in couple of replays.
While coming to bat – to chase down the target of 306 in 50 allotted overs, England hadn’t had a good start as they lost struggling Jason Roy cheaply in the third over when he tried to improvise the ball that lobbed to short fine leg where Mustafizur Rahman leaped to his right to complete an excellent catch.
The right-handed Roy faced eight deliveries which saw him scoring a run as his poor form continues at the top.
However, it was Alex Hales and Joe Root, who steadied England ship while rotating the strike-rate with so much of an ease.
The right-handed batsman Hales holed out to the deep mid-wicket region when the he was caught by substitute Sunzamul Islam on the bowling of Sabbir Rahman, who bowls leg-spin while going for a full-bloodied slog sweep on the final ball of the 28th over.
Hales, who was just a stroke away from hundred, was sent back to pavilion as his 86-ball knock off 95 saw 11 boundaries and two sixes.
Root and Hales put on all-important partnership of 159 for the second wicket, after they lost his opening partner at the score of six.
Earlier in the day, after Eoin Morgan put Bangladesh to bat which was clearly enjoyed by the visitors while playing some quality shots before left-handed senior pro for Bangladesh completed his ninth One-day International hundred in the 168th inning out of his overall 170 matches.
Moreover, wicket-keeper batsman played a crucial knock of 72 balls 79 which was laced with eight boundaries.
After posting the first wicket stand of 56 in 12 overs, it was Iqbal and Rahim, who knitted 166-run stand for the third wicket which is also their best partnership in overseas conditions in ODIs after 141-run stand marked in the 2015 World Cup between Mahmudullah and Rahim against same opposition.
Soumya Sarkar, who made his mind earlier to play an aggressive cricket, was sent back by Ben Stokes on 28 off 34 balls.
The left-handed Imrul Kayes chipped in with 20-ball 19, followed by 15-ball 24 from Sabbir Rahman as Shakib Al Hasan was able to post 10 runs from eight deliveries.
As Bangladesh posted 305 for six on the scoreboard, Mahmudullah was batting on run-a-ball six alongside Mosaddek Hossain, who scored just two of three deliveries.
For England, who interestingly used seven bowlers as Bangladesh has shown some quality improvement with the bat after being bundled out for 84 in the warm-up match against India.
The right-arm fast bowler Liam Plunkett, who has improved as a bowler, bagged four wickets, on a placid surface while giving away 59 runs in his quota of 10 overs as Jake Ball and Ben Stokes picked one wicket each.
Brief Scores: England chased down the target of 306 in 47.2 overs (England – 308 for two)
Joe Root 133* off 129 balls
Eoin Morgan 75* off 61 balls
****
Bangladesh 305 for six wickets:
Tamim Iqbal 128 off 142 balls
Mushfiqur Rahim 79 off 72 balls
****
Liam Plunkett 4 for 59 in 10 overs
Man of the Match – Joe Root