Kieswetter century leads England to easy win

England XI 370 for 7 (Kieswetter 143, Collingwood 109) beat BCB XI 258 for 9 (Swann 4-44) by 112 runs
Scorecard

Craig Kieswetter confirmed his rich promise as an opening batsman, and ensured he will be making his England debut in the first ODI against Bangladesh at Dhaka on Sunday, while Paul Collingwood continued his fine recent form, as both men cracked rapid centuries to set up a comfortable 112-run victory in England's first outing of the tour against a BCB XI in Fatullah.

Kieswetter launched an impressive batting display by slamming a brutal 143 in 123 balls in his maiden appearance for the senior team, before Collingwood climbed onto the offensive in the closing overs of the innings, as he reached his own hundred from just 66 deliveries. England finished their 50 overs with an imposing total of 370 for 7. In reply, the BCB XI were never in contention, as they finished on 258 for 9, with Graeme Swann claiming 4 for 44.

Kieswetter, who was born in Johannesburg, qualified to play for England exactly a week ago. He had not originally been part of England's one-day squad for the tour of Bangladesh, but was added to the party at the last minute following a series of impressive performances for the England Lions in the UAE, including a matchwinning 81 in a Twenty20 contest against the senior squad in Abu Dhabi last Wednesday.

Today he all but doubled that tally with a brilliant display of power-hitting, including four sixes. He opened the batting alongside England's stand-in captain, Alastair Cook, who made a brisk half-century in a 127-run stand for the first wicket, and though he was fortunate to survive four dropped catches, Kieswetter reached his century from 101 balls before powering on at two runs a ball for the remainder of his stay.

Two of his lives were donated by the left-arm seamer, Shafaq Al Zabir, who spilled a pair of caught-and-bowled opportunities in the first hour, and he was later dropped on the boundary's edge on 80. At the other end, Cook was trapped lbw by Aluaddin Babu shortly after reaching his half-century, who removed Kevin Pietersen for a duck with his very next delivery, albeit to a marginal decision.

Luke Wright then survived three chances in a brisk 25, as Collingwood powered along to 109 from 74 balls before becoming one of three late victims for the former Test seamer, Tapash Baishya.

Ajmal Shahzad, who enjoyed a dramatic entry into international cricket with two wickets in his first over against Pakistan in Dubai on Saturday, once again made the first breakthrough of the BCB's reply, as the Test opener, Shahriar Nafees, was bowled for 8 in the fifth over.

Swann then followed up with his habitual early wicket, as Mahmudul Hasan picked out a diving Wright for 22, before Nasiruddin Faroq and Roqibul Hasan dug in to carry the BCB reply past 100. But after a change of ends, and an ineffective first foray from the offspinner James Tredwell, Swann returned to pin Faroq lbw for 37 (107 for 3).

Naeem Islam went the same way for 40, and Swann completed his haul with the scalp of Ariful Hoq, after being hoisted for two big sixes. With the match drifting to a predictable conclusion, Wright claimed his only wicket of the innings, before Liam Plunkett bagged two in the final over, including the top-scorer, Sharifullah, for 47.