Bangladesh beat England in thriller

Bangladesh’s Abdur Razzak plays a shot – which was caught by England’s Tim Bresnan – while England wicketkeeper Matt Prior looks on during the group B match in Chittagong [REUTERS]

Bangladesh tail-enders Shafiul Islam and Mahmudullah became the toast of the nation on Friday after steering their team to a stunning two-wicket World Cup win over England.

The co-hosts looked likely to be heading out of the competition when the eighth wicket fell at 169-8, chasing 225 to
win on a tricky wicket.

But Shafiul decided attack was the best way ahead – and he blasted 24 in as many balls to see his team over the line for
the unlikeliest of wins, as the home crowd went wild.

Earlier, Jonathan Trott was England’s top scorer with 67, backed up by Eoin Morgan’s 63, to help their side recover from a
poor start in the Group B clash.

Meanwhile, Ireland have been fined for their slow over rate in their World Cup Group B defeat at the hands of the West Indies, the International Cricket Council said on Friday.

The Irish side, which went down by 44 runs at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, was found one over short of the
target at the end of the match when time allowances were taken into consideration, the ICC said in a statement.

Accordingly, skipper William Porterfield has been fined 20 per cent of his match fee, while his team mates would each lose 10 per cent, the governing body said.

“The penalty was accepted by Ireland without contest so there was no need for a hearing,” the statement read.

A Kieron Pollard-inspired West Indies had stifled a brave fightback by Ireland earlier on Friday to put one foot in the World Cup quarter-finals.

Pollard hammered 94 off just 55 balls and shared an 88-run stand with Devon Smith, who hit a maiden ODI ton, as West Indies posted 275, before bowling out the Irish for 231 in 49 overs.

Pollard also took a blinder of a catch to send back dangerman Kevin O’Brien for just five off seamer Darren Sammy, who had impressive figures of 3-31 off his ten overs.