Joe keeps us on Root to glory
JOE ROOT’S magnificent century eased England to an eight-wicket victory in their opening Champions Trophy match against Bangladesh.
Root scored an unbeaten 133 as the tournament hosts and favourites chased down 306 with 16 balls to spare.
Yet this win came at a cost as Chris Woakes sustained a side strain that looks certain to rule him out of the rest of the tournament.
Bangladesh had shocked England in the last two World Cups, winning in Chittagong in 2011 and then knocking Eoin Morgan’s team out of the 2015 tournament with a famous victory in Adelaide.
However, much has changed for England over the past two years and their target, although not a foregone conclusion, was eminently gettable for a team who have made a habit of racking up big totals.
Things did not get off to the best start, however, when Jason Roy was caught at short-fine leg in the third over attempting to scoop Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza.
The Surrey opener had made just one and despite being assured of his place for the rest of the tournament by Morgan on the eve of this match, Roy’s fifth single-figure score in six innings must surely increase the pressure on his place.
Thankfully for England, they did have an opener in form in Alex Hales, who alongside Root added 159 for the second wicket to put the hosts in a string position.
Hales looked set for his sixth ODI century as he moved through the gears in an 86-ball innings that saw him hit 11 fours and two sixes.
But he fell for 95 looking to reach three figures with another six.
Instead his slog sweep to the final ball of the 28th over bowled by Sabbir Rahman only finding the fielder at deep midwicket as England were reduced to 165-2.
That brought Morgan to the crease and England’s captain had a let-off on 22 when he appeared to have been caught by Tamim, running in from long-off, off Mashrafe in the 36th over.
But he was reprieved when the umpires went upstairs.
Root and Morgan took advantage of that break by taking their partnership past 50 as the runs required were reduced down to under 100.
By this stage Root was well poised to reach three figures himself despite struggling after injuring his calf running between the wickets.
The Yorkshireman had scored just one ODI century in the past 15 months.
But he was not to be denied this time, Root getting to three figures in 115 balls with a scampered two off Mashrafe.
That left England on 257-2 and
needing just 49 to win from 43 deliveries.
Morgan had reached his 33rd ODI half-century earlier that over.
And victory was secured with almost three overs to spare when Root, whose partnership with Morgan was worth 143, hit the winning runs off Mosaddek Hossain.
The pre-match preamble had been dominated by the fitness test on Ben Stokes’ left knee that saw the all-rounder cleared to bowl.
There was a surprise, the Yorkshire leg-spinner Adil Rashid had been dropped.
Rashid had taken 60 wickets since the last World Cup – the most by any England player – but he made way as England opted for an extra seamer in Jake Ball.
It was perhaps just as well after Woakes was forced to leave the field after bowling just two overs. Woakes had missed the final two ODIs against South Africa with a thigh injury but it was a left side strain that has now put his tournament in doubt.
At least Stokes, making an impact in his first over, managed to prise apart the visitors’ opening pair, Soumya Sarkar picking out deep cover on 28.
Bangladesh were 95-2 in the 20th over when Durham pace bowler Mark Wood pulled off a spectacular diving catch at midon off Liam Plunkett to dismiss Imrul Kayes.
But Tamim and Mushfiqur Rahim both passed 50 as they guided their team to 184-2 after 35 overs.
Tamim reached his ninth ODI century, in 124 balls, from the last delivery of the 39th over.
England’s bowling was far too ragged, Ball and Stokes, who eventually bowled seven overs in the innings, were the worst offenders.
By the time Tamim was out, after he skied Plunkett and was caught by Jos Buttler, Bangladesh were 261-3 in the 45th over following a 166-run stand.
Plunkett then found himself on a hat-trick when he dismissed Mushfiqur for 79 the very next ball, Alex Hales taking the catch at long-on.
Plunkett was the pick of England’s bowlers, the scalps of the dangerous Shakib Al Hasan and Sabbir Rahman taking his tally to four wickets.
That helped to rein in the Bangladesh middle order towards the end of the innings.
Yet this was still the first time they had managed more than 300 against England and it set up the prospect of an interesting chase.
England, though, were glad it wasn’t too interesting.