ICC WC PICS: England thump Bangladesh for first win

Images from the ICC World Cup match between England and Bangladesh, in Dharamsala, on Tuesday.

• SCORECARD

Defending champions England flexed their muscles to crush Bangladesh by 137 runs and record their first win in the World Cup with Dawid Malan smashing a 107-ball 140, in Dharamsala on Tuesday.

After posting a formidable 364 for nine, Reece Topley (4/43) ran through Bangladesh's top order as they could muster only 227 in 48.1 overs, with Litton Das (76) and Mushfiqur Rahim (51) standing out in a largely disappointing batting show.

England's batting stars Malan, Jonny Bairstow (52) and Joe Root (82) contributing significantly in the first half of the contest to take their team to a mammoth total.

It was a game of contrasting halves, where England's mighty batting power served a reminder to their rivals in the first half, while in the second, Bangladesh wilted after taking some early blows and could muster a mere 67 runs in the last 18.1 overs, losing five wickets.

Bangladesh could never recover after Topley struck thrice at the start of their chase, which derailed the Asian side and forced them into a damage-control mode.

For the remainder of the innings, Bangladesh's approach was conservative, lacking any signs of a fight-back or taking the attack to the opposition even as the run-rate surged.

Tanzid Hasan (1) played an ordinary shot to be caught at slip off Topley, while Najmul Hossain Shanto did no better when he played one away from the body to be caught at point for a first-ball duck.

Topley then bamboozled Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan (1) as he got one past his defence to hit the off-stump and reduce the rivals to 26 for three inside the first six overs.

With the top order blown away, Das did well to make a 66-ball 76 -- studded with seven fours and two sixes -- to wage a lone battle, while adding 72 for the fifth wicket with senior pro Rahim.

But with not much batting left in the tank, Rahim dropped the anchor and played a knock that lacked any signs of acceleration. His vigil ended when Topley had him caught at third man, after a 64-ball 51 laced with four fours.

The intent to attack was also missing in Towhid Hridoy's (39 off 61 balls, 2x4s) innings. The batter got his first boundary off the 27th delivery he faced. It was more of a gift as Topley had strayed down the leg side.

With Rahim dismissed at the score of 164 after 31 overs, Bangladesh crossed the 200-run mark as late as in the 43rd over and were soon bundled out.

Earlier, opener Dawid Malan smashed 140 and forged century-plus partnerships with Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root to help England rack up 364-9 against Bangladesh in their second match of the 50-overs World Cup on Tuesday.

Malan combined with Bairstow in a 115-run opening stand to give England a terrific start after being put into bat by Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan.

Even after Bairstow departed for 52, there was no respite for Bangladesh as Malan raised 151 runs with Root, whose 82 followed his 77 in the tournament opener against New Zealand.

Root also overtook Graham Gooch as England's all-time leading run-scorer in the tournament.

Malan clobbered five sixes and 16 fours in his 107-ball blitz before losing his off-stump to spinner Mahedi Hasan (4-71).

Shoriful Islam (3-75), having sent back Jos Buttler in his previous over, dismissed Root and Liam Livingston off successive deliveries but Sam Curran denied him a hat-trick.

England lost a clutch of wickets in quick successions and could not make the most of their final 10 overs.

The defending champions, who suffered a nine-wicket thrashing by New Zealand in their opener, brought in left-arm quick Reece Topley at the expense of spin-bowling all-rounder Moeen Ali.

• World Cup 2023