England v Bangladesh - 26 June - Headingley

[Occasional Fan]

No comment on the site so far about today's game, which I am half listening to online. Twenty overs gone and Bangladesh are 89-1 - not exactly running away with the score, but not giving wickets away either. Yesterday the scoreline was about the same at this stage, I believe, with the collapse coming from the 23rd over onwards. I hope we don't see a repeat today. But even so: why have the England bowlers only taken one wicket so far? Underperforming with the ball, or good work with the bat?

[Kirsty Harris]

They've made a decent start, to be fair. Same as yesterday, so we shall see....

Oh, Imran out as I type this.

Saw Jones bowling earlier, and he was bowling a lot of wides. I guess he's a bit out of practice?

Things are pottering along at the moment, it might pick up a bit later, perhaps.

[Occasional Fan]

I've never really understood those people who pay to go to cricket matches and then are not in their seats at the beginning or end of each session. You can miss the excitement if you miss a single ball. As is evidenced by the fact that Flintoff took two wickets in two balls while I was carving the roast beef.

[Kirsty Harris]

Nice bit of fielding by Colly takes it to 113 - 4.

Bothem proves his eyesight is going by failing to notice that Colly had hit the stumps and was in the process of having a pop at G Jones for not taking the ball cleanly (which I presume was due to the slight deflection the ball took after clipping the stump).

I was shouting at the tele 'it hit the stumps, you idot'!!Gower then bravely broke the news to Bothem that he was talking out of his backside!!! Funny moment!!

[Occasional Fan]

Bangladesh make 208-7 from 50 overs. Respectable, but unlikely to be enough, surely? Even so, how much better it is to hear a full fifty overs played without all the wickets going down. Much better than yesterday's fiasco. First time this summer, apparently, that Bangladesh have not been bowled out by England.

[Occasional Fan]

Although Strauss didn't sound all that comfortable at all times, he made 98 before being bowled with the scores level. Undoubtedly will be slightly miffed, as a boundary would have given him his ton. However, England win by 5 wickets and progress to the final against Australia at Lord's regardless of the results of the next games. I'll be in Greece by the time the final comes around, so enjoy it without me, folks!

[Kirsty Harris]

Poor old Strauss..out for 98 going for the boundary he needed to bring up his ton, and all because Colly accidently hit a ball for four in the previous over. Whoops!! Still, his wife seemed to find it rather amusing!!!

Not a classic game, by any means, England seemed to potter along in 2nd gear for most of the game, and Bangladesh were afraid to take any risks in terms of fielding placements that might have given them any chance of winning the game. Trescothick seeemed bored with Bangladesh bowling as he got himself out, Flintoff was unlucky to given out, and Pieterson went for one big hit too many.

I thought perhaps Flintoff should have got MOM, for his 4 wickets, and a decent little camo knock, but as usual the GBP went for the wrong choice, although Strauss played well enough , he almost played in his sleep after the first 10 overs had passed.

[greg]

It's all great us being able to win in 2nd gear against lesser nations and it shows how far we have come that we can do this,but if we are going to beat Australia this summer we need to have the extra intensity in all games to keep our game sharp.

It may be down to the fact that Captain Marvel was missing and he is able to bring that little extra from the players or possibly they were saving themselves for Australia but we can play better and have to play better.

It is great to be able to say that when we have won a game convincingly.

[Zainub]

I don't think Freddie should be batting at 3, even if it is an in attempt to try and get his form with the bat back.

In fact, I think England have been batting with some really outrageous batting orders in this series, Vikram Solanki at 8 in one match and at 3 in another match?!!?!!

I've just finished reading that the new ridiculous substitutions rules along with the 20 over fielding restrictions might will be put in place for the 3 match Nat West Challenge - aaahhha...I was already so not looking forward to these matches...this will make me want to ignore them all the more.

[greg]

This substiutions rule is a joke.You could open the bowling with Harmison,bowl him out and then replace him with someone like Bell straight away who would be a great fielder and could bat anywhere u want.A complete farce.