England beat Bangladesh by 144 runs to win series

(GETTY)

Andrew Strauss and Jonathan Trott both hit centuries today as England defeated Bangladesh by 144 runs in the third one-day international to clinch a 2-1 series win.

After losing the toss, England posted 347-7 — the highest-ever ODI score at Edgbaston and its third-highest ODI score of all time — with captain Strauss making 154 from 140 balls and Trott scoring 110 from 121 balls.

Ravi Bopara took career-best ODI figures of 4-38 as Bangladesh was bowled out for 203 in 45 overs. Mahmudullah was the top scorer with 42.

"I've been hitting the ball really well throughout the one-dayers," said man-of-the-series Strauss, whose knock included five sixes and 16 fours. "I got a few 50s but haven't gone on to make any big scores until today. I was determined to put that right.

"To get 340 on the board, you're going to win more often than not."

Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza, who took an impressive 3-31 while the rest of his bowlers toiled, said his side's display in the field had not been good enough.

"We bowled very poorly, I think," Mashrafe said. "We didn't put the ball in the right areas, that's the main key."

Bangladesh decided to field in damp, overcast conditions and the tourists got off to an excellent start when Craig Kieswetter — under pressure after a succession of poor batting performances in ODIs this summer — was bowled by Mashrafe for a duck on the fourth ball of the day.

That was Bangladesh's sole early success as Strauss and Trott put on a second-wicket stand of 250, setting a new English record for the highest-ever ODI partnership for any wicket.

Strauss brought up his fourth ODI century, from 106 balls, with a single off the final ball of the 35th over.

Trott reached his first ever ODI hundred, from 112 balls, two overs later but was out in the 41st over — the fourth of the powerplay — when he was caught by Shakib Al Hasan at midwicket off Mashrafe.

Trott's departure prompted a mini-collapse. Luke Wright (0) was promoted to No. 3 as England looked to accelerate, but the move backfired when Mashrafe had him caught behind off the next ball.

Paul Collingwood (8) was brilliantly caught at midwicket by a diving Mohammad Ashraful off Rubel in the 44th over and Eoin Morgan (1) was caught by Tamim Iqbal at long-on off Shafiul Islam in the next over.

Strauss' innings finally came to an end eight balls later, when he holed out to Shakib at mid-on.

Tim Bresnan (10) was caught on the boundary by Tamim off Shafiul for 10 at the end of the 47th, but a late cameo from Bopara saw England finish with a flourish.

Bopara hit 45 from just 16 balls and the final over, bowled by Shafiul, went for 28 runs.

Bopara had already hit a four and a six before he was dropped by Rubel off the third-to-last ball of the innings. He then clattered the final two deliveries for sixes.

Bangladesh's slim hopes were dealt a serious blow in the third over of its reply when Tamim (16) was deceived by a slower ball from Ajmal Shahzad and caught by Wright.

Shahzad then had Imrul Kayes (4) caught behind and in the 10th over, Junaid Siddique (25) tried to hit Bresnan over mid-on and fell to a tumbling catch from Wright for 25.

Jaharul (27) was next to go Shakib (6) was farcically run out by Collingwood three overs later. Mohammad Ashraful hit a single off Wright and called for a second, only to change his mind and leave Shakib stranded.

Bopara trapped Ashraful (13) lbw on his third ball of the day, and then had Mashrafe (14) caught behind.

Bangladesh showed little interest in chasing the target and with many fans leaving the ground early, Mahmudullah's 81-ball innings was finally ended when he was harshly given out lbw to Michael Yardy.

Bopara had Abdur Razzak (27) caught by Bresnan at deep cover and a crushing victory was confirmed when Bopara bowled Shafiul (16).