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New Zealand might be the favourites for the Boxing Day Test in Christchurch, but Sri Lanka too would be equally confident after strong showing in Tests over the year

The Preview by Andrew Fidel Fernando25-Dec-20142:17

McCullum wary of SL’s overseas form

Match factsDecember 26-30, 2014
Start time 1100 local (2200 GMT December 25)Big PictureThings that are less green than this Hagley Oval surface in the approach to the Test: Kermit the frog, the Kyoto protocol, Sri Lanka’s seam attack. It’s not that New Zealand don’t rate Sri Lanka in seaming conditions. At least, they have not outwardly said they don’t. They just rate themselves more. With an outswing bowler in Tim Southee, and inswinging left-armer in Trent Boult, a hit-the-deck seamer in Doug Bracewell, and a tearaway in Neil Wagner, New Zealand possess a fast-bowling full house. Of course they rate themselves.Previous Sri Lanka teams might have been perturbed by the hue of the surface, and the talk from the opposition, but this side is singing a more confident song. They have no quicks who have played more than 21 Tests, and four of the five fast-bowlers in the squad have played fewer than 16.But they have done it before, this year, in Dubai, Dhaka and Headingley, they say, so what of the inexperience? Sri Lanka feel they have weapons too. Maybe not the gatling guns and rocket launchers – but a more old-fashioned breed of armaments: like the katana and the shuriken. They weaken the opposition before striking hard, rather than blowing top orders away on sight.In the batting, New Zealand have the edge again, but when the opposition top order features two candidates for Test cricketer of the year, the hosts can only claim so much of an advantage. It is difficult to recall a time when Kumar Sangakkara was truly out of form. Angelo Mathews, meanwhile, is becoming one of cricket’s all-weather batsmen – as competent stonewalling on a spicy pitch, as he is attacking on a dustbowl.New Zealand, meanwhile, have Kane Williamson in imperious touch, and Ross Taylor not trailing far behind. As India found out early in the year, Brendon McCullum is capable of monster innings, as well as the momentum-pinching slap-dash fifties.The hosts are clear favourites, largely by dint of familiarity with the conditions. But in 2014, Sri Lanka have begun to build a reputation as a decent traveling team, and they are desperate to protect that.A green Hagley Oval pitch two days out from Boxing day•ESPNcricinfo LtdForm guide(last five matches, most recent first)

New Zealand: WDLWL
Sri Lanka: WWDLW
In the spotlightKane Williamson has been New Zealand’s long-term batting investment, and in 2014, he has proved to be the ace-in-the-hole the team had hoped he would become. He averages 60.28 in eight Tests this year, and has doubled his century-count to eight. He is coming off a rich tour in the UAE in all formats, and if Sri Lanka’s spinners ever become relevant in this tour, he is the New Zealand batsman best-placed to counter it.Angelo Mathews was named captain of the ICC XI this year, but no one is more aware than the man himself that the greatest tests for his leadership are to come. Mathews has had perhaps the best support network of any international captain in his 18 months at the helm, with Mahela Jayawardene’s tactical acumen to call upon, as well as Rangana Herath and Kumar Sangakkara’s experience. Now, with Jayawardene retired and Herath ruled out of the first Test, Mathews has lost a good portion of his safety net. It will be intriguing to see if he will continue in the aggressive vein he has recently developed, or slip back into the conservatism that marked the early part of his captaincy.Teams newsSri Lanka have plenty of options with their attack, with Shaminda Eranga and Suranga Lakmal the only certainties to play. Dhammika Prasad is the most likely third seamer, but Nuwan Pradeep may be an option as well. Then they have to make a decision between uncapped Tharindu Kaushal’s big turn, and Dilruwan Perera’s control.Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Dimuth Karunaratne, 2 Kaushal Silva, 3 Kumar Sangakkara, 4 Lahiru Thirimanne, 5 Angelo Mathews (capt.), 6 Dinesh Chandimal, 7 Prasanna Jayawardene (wk), 8 Tharindu Kaushal/Dilruwan Perera, 9 Dhammika Prasad, 10 Shaminda Eranga, 11 Suranga LakmalBrendon McCullum has virtually confirmed offspinner Mark Craig will play, despite the green surface, so the major question will be whether Bracewell or Wagner gets the nod as the third seamer. The top order is fairly settled, with Dean Brownlie more likely to slot into the middle order than for Hamish Rutherford to occupy a place at the top.New Zealand: (probable) 1 Tom Latham, 2 Brendon McCullum, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Dean Brownlie, 6 James Neesham , 7 BJ Watling (wk), 8 Mark Craig, 9 Doug Bracewell/Neil Wagner, 10 Tim Southee, 11 Trent BoultPitch and conditionsThe pitch is positively leafy, with bounce and pace as well, according to the groundsman. Sri Lanka can expect a trial by pace. The skies should be clear for the first two days as well, and while the weather is not quite balmy, even the Sri Lanka players probably won’t need their sweaters.Stats and trivia The Boxing Day Test is the first of its kind in New Zealand, in 11 years. It is also the first Test in Christchurch since 2006. Sri Lanka were the tourists on that last occasion as well. Angelo Mathews averages 86.62 from 13 matches as captain. Sri Lanka’s first ever overseas series win came in New Zealand, when they won one match and drew the other in 1995, but have since won only one more game in six attempts. That win came in Wellington in 2006.Quotes”The style of cricket that we’re playing, over the last 18 months or so, is something that the country enjoys. They also enjoy the fact that we are going to fight hard and make it tough for opposition teams to beat us, if they do beat us. They also see the hard work and characteristics of the team that fights all the way coming through. We’ve seen the groundswell of public support for this team, and I don’t think it’s just because of results. It’s because of the personalities that we have and the style of cricket we’re playing, and the humbleness we play it in.”
“We had a very green wicket in the Queenstown practice match as well, and I think that was really good. That really helps you to get into the mindset of playing on these conditions, whether you are a batsman or a bowler.”

Alex Hales blasted his third century of the season to help Nottinghamshire win their opening match in the Royal London One-Day Cup by 29 runs against Sussex at Horsham.

Press Association27-Jul-2014
ScorecardAlex Hales’ third century of the season saw Notts post a big target•Getty ImagesAlex Hales blasted his third century of the season to help Nottinghamshire win their opening match in the Royal London One-Day Cup by 29 runs against Sussex at Horsham.Hales struck 116 in 115 balls and put on 139 for the first wicket with Michael Lumb, who made 77, as Notts made 312 for 8 from their 50 overs. That proved more than enough for a Sussex team missing the in-form Luke Wright through injury.The hosts were only able to muster 283 for 8 in response despite an unbeaten 63 from Steffan Piolet; Steven Mullaney taking 4 for 33.Hales was initially outscored by Lumb after Sussex had won the toss and put Notts in with the left-hander reaching his 50 off just 58 balls and including one big six off Steve Magoffin. Hales brought up his half-century from 73 balls but began to accelerate after Lumb was bowled for 77 charging down the track at Will Beer.Hales, 25, reached his century off 107 balls – his second 50 coming off 34 deliveries – having received a reprieve on 88 when he was dropped by Matt Machan on the midwicket boundary. He eventually holed out to Lewis Hatchett at long-on off the bowling of Piolet who finished with excellent figures of 2 for 35.That was one of five wickets to fall for 48 runs as Sussex fought back well with the ball with Beer playing a key role. The leg-spinner bowled James Taylor for 13 and had James Franklin caught and bowled to claim figures of 3 for 60 while he also ran out Riki Wessels for a duck with a direct hit.Mullaney ensured Notts made it past 300 by blasting three sixes in his 20-ball 40 before becoming one of Hatchett’s two late victims.Sussex would have fancied their chances of chasing down 313 on a good wicket with a fast outfield but their hopes were undone as they lost wickets at regular intervals.They got off to a good start as skipper Ed Joyce and Luke Wells put on 65 for the first wicket but they lost their way after Wells was caught at point off Franklin by Taylor for a one-day best of 23.Craig Cachopa smacked his first legitimate ball in English List A cricket for six before becoming one of Mullaney’s four victims as he edged behind to Chris Read for 22.Mullaney also dismissed Chris Nash for 26, Ben Brown for 3 and Machan for 43 as Sussex were forced to take risks with the run rate climbing. The key wicket was Joyce, who was superbly caught running backwards by Taylor for 59 off the bowling of Samit Patel.Piolet completed a fine game by making his maiden List A half-century but his seventh-wicket partnership of 55 with Beer, who contributed 23, proved in vain.

Soumya Sarkar picked up two crucial wickets and then struck 86 off 83 balls, as Bangladesh A gunned down 158 against Zimbabwe A in a rain-affected match in Fatullah, to level the series 1-1

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Sep-2014
ScorecardSoumya Sarkar scored 86 of Bangladesh A’s 158•ICC/GettySoumya Sarkar picked up two crucial wickets and then struck 86 off 83 balls, as Bangladesh A gunned down 158 against Zimbabwe A in a rain-affected match in Fatullah, to level the series 1-1.Set a revised revised target of 158 from 47 overs, Bangladesh A began the chase steadily, as the openers Sarkar and Litton Das added 80 in 17.3 overs to provide a solid platform. Sarkar hit 12 fours and a six during his knock, but the Zimbabwe A spinners Wellington Masakadza and Tafadzwa Kamungozi briefly pegged the hosts back with four quick wickets. However, at 139 for 4, most of the work was already done. Naeem Islam and Mosaddek Hossain ensured that Bangladesh A reached the target without any further casualties to complete the six-wicket win.Opting to bat, Zimbabwe A were restricted to 163 for 9 from their 50 overs. Their captain Vusi Sibanda top-scored with 74 amid a batting collapse, as Sarkar (2 for 23), Elias Sunny (2 for 29) and Jubair Hussain (2 for 28) dealt regular blows to keep the visitors from forging a threatening stand.

Press Association15-Jun-2014
ScorecardMichael Hogan’s three wickets kept Kent in check•Getty ImagesMichael Hogan’s three wickets led a Glamorgan attack who made the most of helpful conditions as Kent’s batsmen were restricted on the first day at Sophia Gardens.Despite winning the toss only captain Rob Key really dominated the home attack with 63, although Ben Harmison’s 33 and 42 from Adam Ball held Glamorgan up for more than 20 overs after tea as the visitors closed on 236 for 8.When Key won the toss in bright sunshine he probably fully expected his team to bat for at least a day and a half on what looked like a typically placid Cardiff pitch.It looked an important toss especially in terms of the bigger picture. With Worcestershire and Hampshire racing ahead at the top of the table both Glamorgan and Kent, sixth place and seventh respectively, needed to make the most of their game in hand over the leaders.Kent handed Fabian Cowdrey his County Championship debut with vice-captain Sam Northeast having been rested, while seamer Robbie Joseph replaced Doug Bollinger, who was ruled out with a sore shoulder.Kent also decided to play the one spinner – Adam Riley, with news that James Tredwell is going on a month’s loan to Sussex to play championship cricket. By contrast Glamorgan fielded two slow bowlers – Dean Cosker and Salter – for the first time this season.Key would have been satisfied that he and opening partner Daniel Bell-Drummond had negotiated the new ball to reach 74 for no wicket shortly before lunch.But gradually the tide turned Glamorgan’s way as first offspinner Salter struck twice either side of lunch to remove Bell-Drummond for 39 and Cowdrey, who showed obvious nerves on his four-day debut as he made just 9 before being caught at short leg by Ben Wright.And from 131 for 2 Kent fell victim to swing as the sunshine was replaced by overcast humid conditions. Wobbling it around in the atmosphere the impressive Allenby got the crucial wicket of Key, who completed only his second half-century of the Championship season, before getting out lbw playing across the line.That and the demise of Brendan Nash two balls later put Glamorgan in charge and their position was strengthened either side of tea as the conditions became decidedly gloomy.Before tea Darren Stevens was the victim of a sharp catch at second slip by Jacques Rudolph off Allenby and from the sixth ball after the interval Sam Billings played Hogan on.The ball dominated bat to the extent that Kent’s run rate was well below three runs an over as Harmison and Ball attempted to repair some of the damage.They played patiently to recover some of Kent’s woe but both were dismissed courtesy of the second new ball, which came after bad light had briefly stopped play. Ball was bowled by one from Hogan which nipped back before Ball was well caught by Will Bragg at short midwicket. Bad light then struck again with play being abandoned for the day with four overs remaining.

Essex were made to do without Monty Panesar who was dropped for disciplinary Reasons but coped sufficiently well as Reece Topley took six wickets to help bowl Glamorgan out for 244.

Press Association01-Jun-2014
ScorecardReece Topley was playing his first Championship match of the season•Getty ImagesEssex were made to do without Monty Panesar who was dropped for disciplinary reasons but coped admirably in his absence as Reece Topley took six wickets to help bowl Glamorgan out for 244.Panesar, left out as a result of an issue with timekeeping, was replaced by leg spinner Tom Craddock, although he will be available for Friday’s T20 game on Friday.Craddock proved an expensive replacement with his seven overs costing 30 but he did pick up the wicket of Will Bragg, who top-scored for Leicestershire with 93 as he continued his excellent form.But it was Topley, making his first Championship outing of the season after a stress fracture of his back during the winter, who did the damage as Glamorgan only managed one more half-century.Topley yorked Tom Lancefield in only the second over of the day after the visitors elected to bat. He struck again just before lunch, having Ben Wright caught at gully, before returning with the new ball after tea to claim four wickets in five overs, including two in successive balls, to polish off the innings.Glamorgan looked like they had recovered from a shaky start which saw them reduced to 112 for 3 just after lunch as Bragg passed 500 championship runs for the season in putting on 68 with Chris Cooke for the fourth wicket.Bragg’s departure in the penultimate over before tea was a harbinger of doom for Glamorgan who returned after the interval to lose their last six wickets for the addition of just 53 runs. Cooke was last man out, edging Topley to slip, in the final over of the day.

Chris Woakes was dropped from the one-day team, had a modest Test debut and did not make the Ashes cut. But as captain of England Lions he reminded the selectors of his ability in Kandy

Alex Winter in Pallekele13-Feb-2014
Scorecard0:00

Chris Woakes puts England Lions in command

There are a number of this England Lions squad that have taken a hefty knock from international cricket. Injury, unfortunate selection and underperformance have befallen them. They have all been forced back into cricketing purgatory having been briefly shown through the pearly gates.Chris Woakes has had a double dose. His run of 13 one-day internationals was ended last June and his Test debut in August deterred the selectors from including him in the Ashes party – a decision that one could now argue was a blessing in disguise.He was on the wrong end of Martin Guptill last summer but maintained his form in county cricket, finishing the season as the leading English allrounder, and shrugged off an unrewarding Test debut – where four of his first five overs went for 30 – to complete the year strongly with Warwickshire, including a first-class best 152 not out. He then put in two solid performances for Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash.Being made captain of England Lions for this Sri Lanka tour would have been a further stir in raising his credentials as an international cricketer. On the second day in Pallekele he produced an opening spell worthy of such a player and finished with 4 for 45 to put his side in full control.It was feared that Sri Lanka A’s young order would be over exposed against a high-quality experienced attack, benefitting from swing with the new ball. The third ball of the innings compounded such thoughts. The fourth doubled the scepticism that this match will last four days. Two wickets in the opening over and by lunch the hosts were 55 for 6 and Sri Lankan appetites for a season in England were disappearing.Footwork, a lack thereof, was chiefly to blame for five of the top six contributing only 21, two of them ducks. Just enough movement flummoxed four into offering catches behind the wicket, the first of which was stunningly held by Liam Plunkett with one hand down to his right hand side. Onions also won an lbw decision against left-handed Niroshan Dickwella.0:00

Onions hopes unexpected Sri Lanka tour is springboard to Test return

The new ball – taken by Woakes and Graham Onions – was when classically English bowling was a threat. When the swinging ball had run its course, Chaturunga de Silva and Dhammika Prasad thrived. But their stand of 64 was for the eighth wicket merely propped up the innings from a miserable 61 for 7. Sri Lanka paid badly for their failure to get into the meat of the innings with any kind of stability. They only lasted 48 overs.Veteran captain Upal Tharanga survived the initial carnage but 30 was a modest return from the most experienced player in the order. He fell in the last over before tea as Moeen Ali found some turn to have him caught at short leg. Moeen also ended de Silva’s attractive innings, finding an edge taken by Varun Chopra at first slip. It was evidence of what an attacking weapon Moeen can be. Scott Borthwick did not bowl in the innings.De Silva held the Lions to a draw in the second warm-up in Colombo and again demonstrated his sound technique – albeit coming in at No. 6 against a ball not as fresh – and flourishing strokemaking. His piercing cover drive off Tymal Mills was the shot of the day. In general it was more intelligent batting than his colleagues up the order and prevented his side from being totally blown away.De Silva was helped by some hefty striking from Prasad. He belted several drives through the covers, lifted Moeen over extra-cover for four and then over long-off for six, and managed his last partner carefully enough to allow the addition of 28 more runs. The stand nearly saved the follow-on that the Lions predictably chose not to enforce.But the tourists stumbled in adding to their first-innings lead of 159 as Sri Lanka A’s very capable spinners, Tharindu Kaushal and de Silva, thrived in more helpful conditions. The Lions’ top three all fell lbw, Chopra sweeping, and James Taylor nibbled to slip. Three wickets went to de Silva who, in the face of testing day for his side, walked off with a smile.

Dale Steyn is as light-hearted off the field as he is intense with ball in hand. For a man whose furrowed brow at the top of his mark can make batsmen involuntarily feel for the ball outside off, he is endearingly goofy in person

Alan Gardner26-Mar-2014Dale Steyn is as light-hearted off the field as he is intense with ball in hand. For a man whose furrowed brow at the top of his mark can make batsmen involuntarily feel for the ball outside off, he is endearingly goofy in person, laughing at himself, deflecting praise and letting his thoughts tumble out. He even uses the word “rad”.Steyn is also the leading bowler among the teams to have entered the World T20 at the Super 10 stage, with six wickets from two games. Asked about his feat on Monday, when he won the match with seven runs needed off the final over against New Zealand – the lowest number defended in T20s and only the third time it had been done- he said: “I didn’t think I could win it but we did, so bonus!”Contrast that with the fire in Steyn’s eyes as he collected the final delivery of the match, broke the wicket at the non-striker’s end and propelled his wiry frame on a giddy victory dance looking like the world’s angriest policeman.It is perhaps no wonder that such a fidgety, high-energy player does not like being confined to a hotel for long periods. Players are generally not allowed out for security reasons – though on Wednesday he tweeted a video of himself and Paddy Upton skateboarding along a closed road and waving at grinning locals. You can imagine Steyn donning a disguise to sneak past the guards and post pictures of his adventure on Instagram, if he had to.But while Steyn is an outdoors type whose fitness levels can encompass takeaway pizza or the odd McFlurry, he revealed that some of the players have a slightly more refined way of passing the time in Bangladesh.”It’s been so difficult. We have a wine club, we meet every now and then and have one or two glasses of vino,” he said, without divulging who was most likely to become a sommelier as a second career. “We’ve got a movie club, we have a big team room at the hotel, so we get in there, whether playing poker or watching movies or things like that. We’re not really allowed to leave the hotel much. There’s a Pizza Hut across the road. I’ve never eaten so much pizza in my life.”He also chuckled at the suggestion he is now the team’s “Special One”, after Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, having prevented South Africa from suffering a second group defeat. That title should naturally go to the coach, Russell Domingo, he said.Still, the importance of that win was not lost on Steyn, speaking ahead of South Africa’s third Group 1 match, against Netherlands. He chose to emphasise the contribution of others, in particular his bowling partner Morne Morkel, who conceded 14 off the penultimate over but managed two dots from his last three balls. In T20, those are the margins between getting your aeroplane tickets home and the chance to taste another Shiraz or two before the trip is over.”The mood in the camp could have been completely different if we’d lost that game,” he said, “I think it would have been tickets for us. In this tournament it is kind of tickets if you don’t win all your games. It’s difficult, the little one percenters. If you go back to the game, Morne went for a lot of runs, which is an odd thing but it happens. People might criticise him but, his last three balls, he bowled three death yorkers and the last one went for four. If he had gone for two and one in those previous balls it would have been down to three or four off the last over and that would have been almost impossible.”The little one percenters really count in this game. Just those little things, he might have walked away from the game feeling hard done by from not getting what he wanted but he finished off exactly how he was supposed to and ultimately we won the game.”Steyn suggested South Africa are in a “win-everything” situation, although it is still possible for a team to go through on four points. Sri Lanka have set the pace with two wins already and Steyn had some sympathy with the Netherlands, after they were gutted for 39 on Monday evening. “If you’re not facing those type of guys all the time it can be quite difficult,” he said, referring to the challenge of playing mystery spin or Lasith Malinga’s sui generis yorkers. As Netherlands will find out, Steyn is also in a bracket all of his own.

A round-up of HRV Cup matches that took place on January 5

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Jan-2014Canterbury rode on powerful performances from their middle order to post 201 for 6 and beat Auckland by 21 runs at the Hagley Oval. The win kept Canterbury alive in the HRV Cup. Peter Fulton was their top-scorer with 48 off 31 balls, while Brendon Diamanti was the most explosive batsman, smacking 25 off 10 deliveries at the finish. James Fuller and Colin de Grandhomme were the only Auckland bowlers to concede fewer than 10 runs an over. Auckland’s chase had a fast start with Anaru Kitchen making 44, and after a clutch of wickets fell, de Grandhomme launched his attack. Auckland had progressed to 120 for 3 in the 13th over and were on course when Kitchen was dismissed. De Grandhomme fell shortly after, for 65 off 33 balls, and the chase fizzled out. Canterbury seamer Andrew Ellis, who had contributed 23 off 15 balls with the bat, took 3 for 28.Otago’s top order complemented the restrictive work of their bowlers to secure a seven-wicket victory against Central Districts at Pukekura Park. After losing the toss, Otago’s attack struck frequent blows and controlled the run rate to reduce Central Districts to 28 for 4 in the seventh over. Kieran Noema-Barnett propped up the innings with 52 and Doug Bracewell contributed 35 off 20, but they were the only batsmen to make it past 20. Jacob Duffy took 3 for 29 for Otago, while James McMillian and Jimmy Neesham took two each to keep Central Districts to 147 for 9. Otago lost Neil Broom early in the chase but Aaron Redmond made 32 off 18 balls and Ryan ten Doeschate scored an unbeaten 50 off 32 to seal victory with 15 deliveries to spare.

Ashish Bagai, the Canada captain and wicketkeeper-batsman, has announced his retirement

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Dec-2013Ashish Bagai, the Canada captain and wicketkeeper-batsman, has announced his retirement. Bagai, who will turn 32 next month, debuted for Canada back in 1999 as a 17-year old. He went on to represent his country for more than 14 years. His most recent assignment was the unsuccessful campaign in the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier in the UAE, where Canada finished 12th out of 16 teams after winning only two group games.After the 2011 World Cup, Bagai left the team to attend business school. He was recalled in May this year for a nine-month period leading up to February 2014, after which he was to resume his career in finance. His inclusion came at a crucial time for Canada with two World Cup qualification campaigns lined up: the World T20 Qualifier and the 2015 World Cup Qualifier.However, after the disappointing outing in the former, and less than a month before the 2015 World Cup qualifier begins in New Zealand, Bagai tweeted that he was retiring.Bagai’s ODI debut came in Canada’s memorable win over Bangladesh in the 2003 World Cup in Durban, a memory, he tweeted, that was his one of his favourites, along with the 2009 World Cup Qualifier, where Canada finished second behind Ireland. Bagai scored 1964 runs at an average of 37.76 in 62 ODIs, and his List A career produced 2649 runs in 96 games.

Been an honour to represent Canada over the last 15 yrs. Wish the boys all the best going forward. Will miss this game! #retiring #itstime

— Ashish Bagai (@abagai) December 22, 2013

An unbeaten century from opener Harry Finch meant England Under-19s beat Bangladesh Under-19s in Leicester to record their first win on the tri series.

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Aug-2013
Scorecard
An unbeaten century by Harry Finch steered England Under-19s home against Bangladesh Under-19s in Leicester. Finch’s innings helped the home side register its first win of the tri-series, also featuring the Pakistan Under-19 side.It was slow going for England after Ryan Higgins was dismissed off the fifth ball of the chase, with no run on the board. They crossed fifty only in 18th over but with Finch at the crease, striking half-century partnerships with Haseeb Hameed and Will Rhodes, the target of 171 was always in sight. Finch got to his half-century in the 32nd over, but Rhodes’ wicket in the 39th took the required rate up to five. James Tatterstall holed out three overs later, which meant England needed 42 off 47 balls. The well-set Finch struck five of his 12 fours, the last of which took him to a century before Miles Hammond completed the formalities.Bangladesh, having chosen to bat, could not negotiate seamer Jack Winsdale, who removed Sadman Islam off his sixth ball and accounted for Shahriar Jummon and Mosaddek Hossain in successive overs to leave Bangladesh at 56 for 4 in 10 overs. With a healthy run rate as cushion, captain Mehedy Hassan and Joyraz Sheik were tasked with the recovery, adding 69 runs for the sixth wicket and they guided the team past the century-mark in the 19th over. The score had reached 130 when Tom Barber removed Mehedy in the 26th over. Joyraz fell eight runs later and Winsdale and Matthew Fisher cleaned up the tail, ending with 4 for 39 and 3 for 28 respectively.