Hales, Root guide England home

Joe Root scored a solid unbeaten century and opener Alex Hales hit an 86-ball 95 as England made light of the 306-run target set by Bangladesh to win its opening match in Champions Trophy by eight wickets on Thursday. 

The duo added 159 runs in 25.3 overs for the second wicket after England lost Jason Roy early in the chase. Captain Eoin Morgan (75 not out) and Root (133 not out off 129 balls) kept their cool and put on 143 runs for the unbroken third wicket as England won with 2.4 overs to spare. 

Earlier, Tamim Iqbal hit a stylish 128 (142 balls) guiding Bangladesh to 305 for six in 50 overs. Tamim’s 166-run partnership for the third wicket with Mushfiqur Rahim (79 off 72), Bangladesh shrugged off the disappointment of a batting debacle against India in the practice game and ran up 305 for six in 50 overs Bangladesh had earlier knocked England out of the ICC World Cup in 2015. The visitors made a safe start with Tamim and Soumya Sarkar (28) adding 56 runs for the opening wicket. Imrul Kayes (19) didn’t score too many but the two senior pros, Tamim and Rahim then batted responsibly on a placid Oval track.

The stylish Tamim hit 12 boundaries and three sixes in his innings while Rahim struck eight boundaries in his 72-ball knock. Tamim started on a cautious note getting his first boundary off 21st ball that he faced. Tamim completed his 50 off 71 balls. The six came off Moeen Ali -- an inside out lofted shot over longoff. 

The century also came when he tapped Ali for a single to complete it off 124 balls. It seemed that Bangladesh would get close to 330 but England fought back through Liam Plunkett who dismissed Tamim and Rahim off successive balls in the 45th over. The twin strikes affected the scoring rate a bit before Sabbir Rahman smashed 24 off 15 balls to take his team past 300. 

Medium pacer Plunkett was the pick of the bowlers for England (4-59 from 10 overs). Plunkett conceded just five runs in the last over.