365 Sporting Days

I’m going to write this one as I go along battery allowing! (more photos to be added later)

Cardiff isn’t a million miles from Bristol, but thankfully it looks like the weather isn’t going to spoil this one! Well, not in a rainy way anyway!

I dawdled at my Airbnb and underestimated the walk so was a little late to arrive. I joined a huge queue to come into the ground before I and the organisers realised there were gates with few people!

My seat in the Grand Stand took a bit of a climb, but I made it without oxygen. I’ve been to Sophia Gardens a few times and really like it, today I don’t like the fact I can’t see a scoreboard. The 2 big screens are being mostly used for advertising, I’d much rather know the score and facts than know Emirates Fly Better.

This is my 3rd Bangladesh game in a week, they won the toss and put England in to bat.

A decision they may regret, Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy have made a great start, we nearly had a comedy run out, but the ball was sent to the wrong end, Bairstow would’ve been well out.

At the drinks/hydration break at 18 overs in England are 120 for no wicket, with Roy on 69 and Bairstow 48. Information courtesy of the BBC not the venue!

Jonny Bairstow’s just reached his 50 from 48 balls, both men have coped much better with the spin today.

As I typed that Bairstow is out, to a great diving catch from Mehidy from the bowling of Mashrafe. England are 128 for 1, and Joe Root has joined Roy.

England are 130 after 20 overs, the skies overhead have some very dark clouds, but there’s a very strong, chilly, wind which is moving them along in a hurry.

We’ve just had some drama as Jason reached his century, in watching the ball he took out the poor umpire! He scored his 100 from 92 balls, great to see him going so well after a poor game against Pakistan.

What is noticeable about England is they take more 2’s than most, taking every opportunity to get runs.

England’s 200 came up in the 31st over, this could be the first 400 in the tournament. That is if wickets don’t fall, Joe Root has just been bowled by Shaifuddin for 22 and England are 205 for 2

Jos Buttler has survived a first ball LBW appeal, the ball was missing the wickets Bangladesh have lost their appeal.

Buttler’s come in ahead of his captain Eoin Morgan, it’ll be interesting to see what impact he has.

A different drama to mark Roy’s 150, he just hit 3 huge Sixes, in going for a fourth he didn’t quite get hold of it and has been caught by Mashrafe from the bowling of Mehidy. England are 235 for 3 and Morgan is coming to the wicket.

Aggers has said how sorry he feels for Mosaddek bowling to Jos Buttler, how right he was, he hit a big Six, followed by a Four, a couple of singles then a Six into the River Taff!

Having seen 2 great fielding performances from Bangladesh they’ve been quite poor today so far.

England are 275 for 3 after 40 overs, to a degree Bangladesh have pegged them back a bit.

We have a second ‘new’ ball after Buttler hit another 6 out of the ground. Buttler’s 50 has just come up In 33 Balls and we have an Umpire review for run out, which he’s survived!

Buttler got himself another mighty Six, then didn’t quite get enough on the next ball, out, caught Soumya bowled Shaifuddin for 64. A nagging worry for England, Buttler looked to be struggling with a possible groin strain. (Since confirmed as a hip injury) England are 330 for 4.

Having watched Tamim drop a difficult chance, Morgan was caught the next ball by Soumya from the bowling of Mehidy for 35.

Ben Stokes has gone for a big shot and been caught by the captain Mashrafe from the bowling of Mustafizur for 5. England are 341 for 6 in the 48th over.

With his eyes on a score England can defend Chris Woakes just hit 14 from the over, not bad for a player who’s just arrived! 355 with 2 overs remaining.

The captain bowled the final over from the pavilion end, that didn’t go too well, the score moved on to 373.

A TMS fact England today became the first team to score 300 in 7 consecutive matches.

Plunkett and Woakes put on 13 in the final over with England finishing on 386. Plunkett above scored 27 from 9 balls.

a mention for the lady sat a few rows behind me who seems to be a fielding coach, every time Bangladesh did something she didn’t!rate in the field she yelled out ‘be professional!’ I can only presume this woman was a gun fielder at some point!

Jos Buttler seems to be sitting out the Bangladesh innings, let’s hope his injury isn’t a serious one. Jonny Bairstow is therefore keeping and James Vince fielding.

Jofra Archer had a ball edged to first slip, which fell slightly short, no worries, he clean bowled Soumya for 2 on the next ball. Bangladesh are 8 for 1.

2 overs and a wicket for no runs for Archer so far.

Woakes and Archer restricted Bangladesh well in the early overs. With Tamim in particular testing his ducking skills when facing Archer.

After 11 overs Bangladesh are 55 for 1. Mark Wood, or number 33, as our fielding expert knows him, has been hit for a few runs, but has removed Tamim, who gave a regulation catch to Morgan, he’d scored 19 and Bangladesh have moved to 63 for 2.

Wood seems to be one of the truly nice men of cricket, it was good to see him acknowledge the crowds applause as he came back to field.

A quick update as the players take their Powerade Hydration Break, Bangladesh are 87 for 2 after 17 overs.

Shakib has brought up his 50 in 53 balls, but the pace as a whole is too slow for Bangladesh.

A ball from Wood just fully hit Shakib on his head, yet no check of his helmet, my belief was the helmet had to be changed if it was hit!

Mushfiqur and Skakib are batting beautifully, I really have to question why England were put into bat with the firepower at their disposal. The 2 have just brought their 100 partnership up in 98 balls.

In common with most teams, they aren’t chasing the 2’s, something England do really well.

Jason Roy has made amends for his dropped catch at Trent Bridge, taking a great catch to dismiss Mushfiqur from the bowling of Liam Plunkett, an entertaining 44 for the diminutive keeper. Bangladesh are 168 for 3.

One wicket so often sees another, and Rashid has dismissed new batsman Mithun for a Duck, caught by Bairstow.

Bangladesh are 170 for 4. Shakib, a classy player has just brought up his century, made from 95 balls, and well deserved.

Ben Stokes came into the bowling line up, he bowled a straight one which Shakib missed, out for 121, a superb innings, which was thoroughly enjoyable to watch. It was noticeable that our fielding coach didn’t get up to clap him off.

Bangladesh moved to 224 for 5. Mosaddek is another stepper back, in common with Sarfraz it seems to work for him. In saying that he tried to pull a ball from Stokes and was caught by Archer having scored 26.

Mark Wood who always works so hard has despatched Mahmudullah with a straight forward high catch by Bairstow, he’d made 28.

As I type Stokes had clean bowled Shaifuddin for 5, he’d got away with the ball hitting the stumps, with the bails staying put the ball before, there was no question with this next one!

With the game out of sight for Bangladesh the crowd are starting to walk away.

Mehidy had a wild swing at an Archer ball, not the best plan, he was caught by Bairstow for 12 and Bangladesh are 280 for 9.

And a bouncer from Archer which Mustafizur couldn’t avoid has just gone to Bairstow’s gloves. A win for England by 106 runs. As TMS have just said, a banana skin well and truly avoided