Bangladesh need to rewrite a record if they want to seal their second straight victory in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup as their opponent England racked up a daunting 364-9, riding on a ton of Dawid Malan at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharmasala today.
The pitch was not as slow and low as it was against Afghanistan and it played to England's strength. At one point the Three Lions threatened to put up 400 but Bangladesh bowlers bowled comparatively well in the death overs. Still England left them a mountain to climb.
Bangladesh's highest successful chase is 322, which they did against West Indies in the 2019 World Cup.
Malan led the charge with his career-best 107 ball-140, an innings laced with 16 fours and five sixes. Joe Toot hammered 82 off 68 with eight fours and one six and Jonny Bairstow hit 52 to complement Malan's sixth ODI hundred.
England were sent to bat first as Bangladesh wanted to utilize the early moisture, created by the overnight rain.
Bangladesh pacers didn't bowl that badly but England openers Bairstow and Malan played carefully to settle them in the crease.
As the ball got older, they found it easier to go on berserk. Even the spinners were not spared. While they were cautious against Shakib Al Hasan, they treated other spinners with disdain to tick the scoreboard rapidly.
Shakib eventually broke the 115-run opening partnership, rattling the stump of Bairstow with his stock weapon arm-ball.
Root joined Malan and together they further punished Bangladesh bowlers at will to stitch a 151-run partnership, which is the highest at any wicket at this venue.
Offspinner Mahedi Hasan who replaced Mahmudullah Riyad the side's only change in the match claimed the wicket of Malan as he went for a big shot.
At this phase, as England looked to head toward 400, left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam stifled them. He firstly removed England captain Jos Buttler (20) who appeared to be utter threatening and then got rid of Root and Liam Livingstone in consecutive deliveries.
Harry Brook (20) and England's lower order then batted aggressively to help the side propel past 350-run mark.
Mahedi Hasan was expensive but ended up with his career-best 4-71 while Shoriful took 3-75.
Amongst the Bangladeshi bowlers, only Shakib conceded less than six runs per over.
