Shafiul Stars as Bangladesh Stun England in a Thriller

Chittagong: Late charge by Shafiul Islam (unbeaten 24 off 24 balls) after Imrul Kayes' patient 60 helped Bangladesh shock England by 2 wickets in their World Cup clash at Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong.

Islam hit a huge six and four fours in his run-a-ball knock and put on match-winning 61-run partnership with Mahmudullah for the eighth wicket.

Mahmudullah played a matured patient inning as he hit just two boundaries including the winning one and faced 42 balls to score valuable 21 runs.

After a valiant batting show by Imrul Kayes, England bowlers hit back to take a few quick wickets to put the Tigers on the back foot.

Kayes' 62 came from 100 balls as Bangladesh were 169/8 in 39.4 overs. He got run out as a result of a sharp throw by Ajmal Shahzad while taking a needless run.

Bangladesh started well as openers Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes motor along for their third 50-run opening stand in this World Cup.

Tamim Iqbal slammed a quick fire 36 of 26 balls before falling to a Tim Bresnan's good length delivery that hit the top of the middle stump.

Earlier, Jonathan Trott and Eoin Morgan defied Bangladesh's rampaging spinners with half-centuries as England were bowled out for 225 runs

Trott hit 67 and left-hander Morgan, who arrived in Chittagong on Tuesday to replace the injured Kevin Pietersen, made an immediate impact with a fluent 63 off 72 balls.

The duo put on 109 for the fourth wicket after England, sent in to bat on a sluggish pitch at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium, slipped to 53/3 in the 17th over.

The partnership was broken by a brilliant catch from Imrul Kayes, who dived in front at deep square-leg to hold the ball after Morgan skied a sweep against off-break bowler Naeem Islam.

None of the other batsmen lasted long against the Bangladesh spinners as Naeem finished with 2/29 and left-armers Abdur Razzak and skipper Shakib Al Hasan also claimed two wickets each.

A sell-out crowd of 18,000 backed the Tigers in the day-night game that Bangladesh must win to stay in realistic contention for a place in the quarterfinals.

A victory for England, who have five points from four previous games, will ensure them a berth in the knock-out rounds.

England picked Matt Prior to open the batting with skipper Andrew Strauss in place of Kevin Pietersen, who has returned home to undergo a hernia operation.

The wicket-keeper made 15 when he was dismissed in bizarre fashion, stumped by his Bangladesh counterpart Mushfiqur Rahim off Razzak's first delivery.

Rahim removed the bails off a wide ball down the leg-side, but even though Prior had dragged his back foot in just in time, he again wandered out of his crease.

Seeing the batsman out of his ground, a quick-thinking Rahim pulled out a stump to ensure the decision, which was referred to the TV umpire, went in his favour.

England made three changes from the side that beat South Africa by six runs in Chennai on Sunday.

Morgan and Ajmal Shahzad replaced the injured Pietersen and Stuart Broad, while seasoned all-rounder Paul Collingwood came in for Michael Yardy.

Bangladesh, who fell for their lowest total of 58 against the West Indies in the previous match, dropped former captain Mohammad Ashraful to play all-rounder Mohammad Mahmudullah.

Brief scores
England 225 (Trott 67, Bell 63)
Bangladesh 227 for 8 (Kayes 60, Shahzad 3-63)
Results Bangladesh by two wickets
MOM Shafiul Islam (Bangladesh)
Points Bangladesh 2, England 0