Bangladesh took 83 off the last 10 overs of their innings to lift themselves to 232 for eight in the ICC KnockOut preliminary round match against England at the Nairobi Country Club on Thursday.

With opener Javed Omar Belim returning to the crease after suffering a hand injury earlier, the Bangladeshis were able to compensate for a slow start to their innings to give themselves at least a defendable total. Javed ended the innings unbeaten on 63 after shepherding the tail through the closing overs.

At the halfway stage, Bangladesh had been 85 for three and seemed unlikely to reach 200.

Aminul Islam, who had to share the blame for the earlier run out of Habibul Bashar, eventually lasted for 50 balls in making 30 before he ran out of patience and tried to hit Mark Ealham over mid-on. Andy Caddick took a good catch running backwards with the ball dropping over his shoulder to leave Bangladesh 96 for four.

His dismissal brought Javed Omar Belim back to the crease. Javed left the field in the 13th over after being struck on the hand by Caddick and he now returned to share in Bangladesh’s most substantial partnership with his captain, Naimur Rahman.

Together they added 64 for the fifth wicket with Naimur becoming the first Bangladeshi batsman with enough confidence to take on the England bowlers. He hit Graeme Hick over extra cover for 6 and Craig White, too, went out of the ground.

Naimur might have been out on 45 when he skied Caddick, but White, with the sun in his eyes, pulled out of the catch. Naimur, however, was caught off the next ball he faced when Nasser Hussein watched the ball drop into his hands at backward point.

Naimur’s runs came off 60 balls and he hit four fours in addition to his pair of sixes. He had given his side at least a semblance of respectability.

Khaled Masud joined Javed and set about picking up where his captain had left off, hooking the first ball he faced from White high and handsome for six. In an 11-ball cameo, Khaled also crashed Mark Ealham over long on for six before he as superbly caught by Hick, sprawling full length on the square leg boundary, for 17.

By now Javed had also hit his straps to lead a charge against Mark Alleyne in the 46th over which produced 17. Mohammad Rafiq came and went for 5 and Enamul Hoque for 2 as the tailenders tried to take the aerial route, but Hasibul Hossain stayed long enough to make 16 off 12 balls at the death.

© CricInfo Ltd.