Bangladesh, who won the toss and opted to bat, made slow progress to reach 85 for three after 25 overs in their ICC KnockOut match against England at the Nairobi Gymkhana Club on Thursday.

The newest Test-playing nation might also have lost the services of opening bat, Javed Omar Belim, who retired to the pavilion with an injured hand after making 14. Aminul Islam was not out 25 while the captain, Naimur Rahman, had still to open his account.

The England new ball pair, Andy Caddick and Darren Gough, tended to bowl a shade too short during their opening burst, with Gough, in particular, becoming frustrated as the Bangladeshi openers regularly played and missed. And on two occasions when Gough did pitch it up, Al Sharier helped himself to a couple of straight-driven boundaries that screamed back past the bowler.

Finally, though, Shahrier tried to lift Caddick over mid-off, but contrived only to provide Mark Alleyne with a regulation catch and England had made the breakthrough at the end of the 11th over with Bangladesh on 33.

Javed Omar Belim, who had been struck on the glove by Caddick, left the field at the end of the 13th over to be replaced at the crease by Aminul Islam. Javed had 14 when he retired with Bangladesh on 36 for one.

Habibul Bashar had a let-off in Caddick’s eighth over when he miscued a pull, but Graham Thorpe spilled a one-handed, diving attempt at the catch. To make matters worse for Caddick, Mark Ealham’s return went for overthrows, and Habibul got three for the stroke.

The mistake allowed Bangladesh to reach 45 for one at the completion of the first 15 overs.

Bangladesh continued to make slow progress, but another dropped catch, this time by Andy Flintoff as Aminul edged Craig White high to him at slip in the 20th over, denied England a second breakthrough. Aminul had 13 at the time with Bangladesh on 61 for one.

A terrible mix-up in the next over accounted for Habibul as he went for a second run and found himself, his partner and the ball in Alex Stewart’s hands all at the striker’s end. Stewart lobbed the ball down the pitch and Habibul was run out for 18 with Bangladesh 70 for two.

The third wicket fell when Akram Khan had his off stump uprooted by Mark Ealham in the 25th over.

© CricInfo Ltd.