Bell faced 101 balls with six fours as England, chasing 251 to win, reached the target for the loss of four wickets and 29 balls to spare. This was Bell’s first one-day international since facing India in 2008. However, he had restated his one-day case with a limited overs best 158 for the second string England Lions in their tied triangular series match against India A.
This was a much less spectacular innings but one England needed after they lost two wickets in quick succession to be 93 for two.
Earlier, Bangladesh’s Raqibul Hasan marked his international return with 76 in a total of 250 for nine after Tigers captain Mashrafe Mortaza won the toss.
England made a rapid start to their reply thanks to a first wicket-stand of 75 between captain Andrew Strauss, whose 37-ball fifty featured seven boundaries, and Craig Kieswetter.
There was no lack of aggression from the left-hander as he lofted Shafiul Islam over extra-cover. However, in the 12th over and having just reached his fifty, Strauss was run out.
Kieswetter, who had launched Razzak for six, fell for 32 when he top-edged a slog-sweep off Shakib Al Hasan and Faisal Hossain took a well-judged catch on the boundary.
Paul Collingwood and Bell stopped the rot with a partnership of 80, albeit in 100 balls.
Collingwood was out for 33. But Bell, using his feet well against the spinners, saw England to victory with his 16th fifty in 80 ODIs.
Earlier, Tamim Iqbal got Bangladesh off to a blistering start as he took fours off the first two balls of the innings from James Anderson. But he was leg-before for 28 to leave Bangladesh 40 for one.
Siddique and Raqibul frustrated England and it needed the introduction of Michael Yardy, to break the third-wicket stand when he had Siddique lbw for 51.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 10th, 2010.
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