Tredwell stars with the ball as England win their final warm-up match

By Sam Dixon

Kent off-spinner James Tredwell (pictured) played a pivotal role as England cruised past a Bangladesh Cricket Board XI in their final warm-up game of the tour.

The hosts batted first in Fatullah, in a match reduced to 37 overs per-side because of heavy overnight thunderstorms, and immediately the England quick bowlers put them on the back foot. Ryan Sidebottom and Tim Bresnan both picked up two wickets apiece as the BCB XI were reduced to 36 for four within the first nine overs. Wickets continued to tumble as skipper Alastair Cook introduced Tredwell into the attack and he soon caused problems. Firstly he accounted for Mahmudal Hasan for 15, caught by Luke Wright at mid-wicket and then, in his next over, he tempted fans favourite Mashrafe Mortaza into a rash shot and Liam Plunkett took the catch in the deep. The Kent man“s figures of two for 17 off seven proved to be the best amongst the England bowlers. However, England failed to see the BCB XI off and a late rally saw them creep up to 151 for eight off their allotted overs; this was mostly thanks to an eight-wicket stand of 55 between Tanveer Haider (35) and Alauddin Babu (43 not out).

England had no problems in chasing down the runs. In a change to the batting line-up Kevin Pietersen opened with Cook, in order to get some valuable time in the middle, but he failed as Alauddin Babu had him caught at slip for six. Matt Prior, whose place is under threat from newcomer Craig Kieswetter, joined Cook at the crease to prove himself and he didn“t disappoint. The pair raced to their half-centuries at better than a run-a-ball. Cook eventually retired on 52 whereas Prior was unbeaten at the end on 64. Eoin Morgan was the only other wicket to fall for nine, attempting a reverse-sweep off Mahmudul Hasan. Wright chipped in with an unbeaten 20 as England secured victory by seven wickets with 46 balls to spare.

Tredwell will be hoping his performance was good enough for him to make his England bow in the first ODI against Bangladesh in Dhaka on Sunday.