Cricket
England off to good start
2010-03-12 08:13
Email | Print
Chittagong - Skipper Alastair Cook hit an impressive half-century to steer England to 104-1 at lunch on the opening day of the first Test against Bangladesh on Friday.
Cook, leading England for the first time in Tests, scored an unbeaten 55 for his 23rd Test half-century after the tourists were put in to bat on a slow pitch in Chittagong.
The England captain put on 72 for the opening wicket with debutant Michael Carberry (30). He has so far struck one six and six fours in his 91-ball knock.
Cook reached his half-century a few overs before the break, cutting left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan through the covers for four. Jonathan Trott was unbeaten on 13.
Left-handed Carberry was more aggressive than his captain in the early part of the partnership, firmly driving seamer Rubel Hossain for three boundaries in an over.
Cook waited patiently for loose deliveries to punish, once slog-sweeping Shakib over mid-wicket for the match's first six and then hitting two successive fours off Rubel.
Bangladesh, who introduced spin after seven overs, tasted their first success when Carberry was trapped leg-before by off-spinner Mohammad Mahmudullah while attempting to sweep.
Carberry was dropped by wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim off Mahmudullah when on 30, but failed to capitalise on the chance as he fell in the bowler's next over.
The tourists went into the first match of the two-Test series with three fast bowlers -- Tim Bresnan, fit-again Stuart Broad and debutant Steven Finn -- and spinner Graeme Swann.
The final match begins in Dhaka on March 20.