England avoid humiliation

Successive defeats by Sri Lanka and Australia left England needing to win their remaining three matches to have any hope of qualifying for the semi-finals for the first time since 1992.

But instead of producing a confident display to give South Africa, their opponents next Tuesday at the Kensington Oval, plenty to think about they just about edged home after a nervy chase of Bangladesh's modest 143.

It took the composure of Paul Collingwood and Paul Nixon to finally see England home with 5.1 overs remaining after they had slipped to a perilous 110 for six with left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique claiming two wickets in an over.

Unlike Australia, Sri Lanka and New Zealand, who all cruised to victory against Bangladesh, England almost became the third major scalp for Test cricket's newest nations following their shock victories over India and South Africa during the tournament.

England looked to have done all the hard work by dismissing Bangladesh for a modest total after they struggled to cope with the extra pace and bounce offered by the pitch.

Compared to the slow, low surfaces offered elsewhere in the competition, this one appeared to have been made for England's seamers and they tore through Bangladesh's batting line-up after captain Michael Vaughan won the toss and decided to bowl.

Using regular short balls as a potent weapon, they reduced Bangladesh to 65 for six and put them on course to break the World Cup record for the lowest score in a match between two Test nations of 74 set by Pakistan against England in 1992.

But a stubborn 47-run stand between impressive all-rounder Saqibul Hasan, who top-scored with an unbeaten 57, and Mashrafe Mortaza halted the slide and allowed Bangladesh to recover and reach a more respectable total.