AFTER a heavy 9-wicket loss to New Zealand in the opening game of the 50 over World Cup, the white-ball champions made amends after a 137-run victory against Bangladesh.
Dawad Malan shone superior after he blasted 140 runs from 107 balls at the top of the order, whilst Joe Root found his form with 82 runs from 68 balls, their partnership accumulating 151 runs from 117 balls.
England reached 364-9 which inevitably was plenty enough runs, but they were predicted a larger total after being 266-1 from 38 overs.
With the ball in hand, England never looked in doubt after the returning Reece Topley two wickets in two balls in the second over to set the tone.
Bangladesh opener Liton Das scored 76 which at the time was an anomaly, until Mushfiqur Rahim also scored a half century (51).
The challenge was too steep at the Dharamsala ground for Bangladesh, being bowled out for 227 inside 49 overs.
England will have a spring in their step ahead of Sunday’s fixture against Afghanistan, especially leaving Dharamsala with a win but just as importantly no new injuries to the squad.
They were warned to tread carefully while playing after the rough outfield had raised injury concerns.
The aesthetics of the ground have not matched up to the professional playing standards, with already some injury scares – Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman got his knee stuck in the outfield while diving for a ball.
Dharamsala is based at the foot of the Himalayas, 1317m above sea level – the highest international ground in the world.
The ICC categorised the outfield as ‘average’ but England Captain, Jos Butler deemed it worse:
“I think it’s poor, in my own opinion. It’s not as good as it could be or should be. Certainly if you feel like you’re having to hold yourself back, it’s not a place you want to be as a team or as a player or in a World Cup match.”
The higher risk of injury meant the omission of Ben Stokes, who is yet to play this World Cup due to a hip injury, was easily made by Butler.
Stokes might make his return to the playing eleven when England take on Afghanistan at Dehli on Sunday at 9:30am GMT.
