'Bhoot bana ke maara Bangladesh ko' - Fans react as England opens 2023 World Cup account with thumping 137-run win over Bangladesh

Defending champions England secured their first win of the 2023 ODI World Cup by beating Bangladesh on Tuesday, October 10. After a poor show in Ahmedabad against New Zealand, it was essential for them to bounce back. A dominant batting performance and excellent bowling effort saw England claim their first point with a thumping 137-run victory in Dharamsala. 

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Asked to bat first at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, England openers Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow made a cautious start to their innings. However, once they settled in, the Bangladesh bowlers had no breathing space. Both went on to complete half-centuries before captain Shakib Al Hasan broke the 115-run partnership in the 18th over. 

After Bairstow's departure, Malan and Joe Root took over the responsibility of scoring. The two continued to attack, with Malan becoming more aggressive. The southpaw hit his sixth ODI century off just 91 balls to become the fastest batter to score six centuries in the 50-over format (23 innings). The 36-year-old is also now the oldest English cricketer to score a century in the ODI World Cup. 

Malan's sensational knock came to an end after making 140 off 107 balls when Mahedi Hasan bowled him in the 38th over. England lost quick wickets, including Root's 82 off 68 balls. They managed to post a massive score of 364 runs but surely were disappointed for not scoring more in the final overs. Hasan and Shoriful Islam shared seven wickets each. 

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Litton Das-Mushfiqur Rahim partnership gave Tigers a ray of hope

In reply, Bangladesh got off to a horror start as they lost Tanzid Hasan and Najmul Hossain Shanto in the second over. Captain Shakib and Mehidy Hasan Miraz also departed without troubling much. However, Litton Das and Mushfiqur Rahim steadied the ship for the Tigers for a while and saved them from further collapse. Das (76 off 66) was sent back to the pavilion by Chris Woakes in the 21st over. 

Mushfiqur and Towhid Hridoy then stitched a brief partnership but Reece Topley applied the breaks by picking up the wicket of the former. Some handy contributions from the tail-enders helped Bangladesh to cross the 200-run mark (227/10 in 48.2 overs). Reece Topley was the pick of the bowlers for England, picking up four wickets while conceding 43 runs.

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Here's how fans reacted to England's dominant win over Bangladesh in the 2023 ODI World Cup: 

What a comeback

— khushnood Ali Khan (@khushnoodali00) October 10, 2023

What actually happened! England back to ruling.#ENGvBAN #CWC23
Empathic win over Bangladesh pic.twitter.com/UXYWEIFQXh

— Sammy 𝕏 (@sammyX39) October 10, 2023

First win for the ATTACKING Champions

— Febin (@febinvthomas) October 10, 2023

Bahut badi jeet england ke liye

— Ankit Verma (@TechyWicket) October 10, 2023

big win for England to bring up their NRR

— anees ur rehman (@an33s) October 10, 2023

Great performance by england

— Cricket Empire (@CEmpire_7) October 10, 2023

Pengland u can only defeat minnows never mess with new Zealand 🔥🔥

— Black caps fan 🖤🖤 (@thaufik51606101) October 10, 2023

This is permanent pic.twitter.com/iY77eGSrvc

— Secular Chad (@SachabhartiyaRW) October 10, 2023