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Cook marks first Test as England captain with unbeaten ton

March 12, 2010 17:22 IST

Alastair Cook marked his first Test as England captain with an unbeaten century to lift his team to a commanding 374 for three on the opening day of the series against Bangladesh on Friday.

Cook's 11th Test century made the hosts regret their decision to bowl first. He was 158 not at close of play, with Paul Collingwood unbeaten on 32.

Former skipper Kevin Pietersen was out for 99 after adding 170 runs with Cook for the third wicket.

Cook, quiet initially, grew in confidence to hit 14 boundaries and smash off-spinner Mahmudullah over long on for the second of his two sixes to reach three figures.

His opening partner, debutant Michael Carberry, was first out for 30, unable to cope with the spin of Mahmudullah.

The left-hander had clubbed six fours, including three in one over from seamer Rubel Hossain, but was dropped by wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim for 30 off Mahmudullah before being trapped lbw in the spinner's next over.

Jonathan Trott was next to go when he was caught behind for 39, replays suggesting the short-pitched ball from Rubel struck him on the helmet before flying through to wicketkeeper Rahim.

Bangladesh brought their fielders around the bat for the struggling Pietersen, but he showed no sign of nerves and drove left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak for a cover boundary to get off the mark.

Scorecard

England (1st innings):
A Cook not out 158
M Carberry lbw Mahmudullah 30
J Trott c Rahim b Rubel 39
K Pietersen b Razzak 99
P Collingwood 32.
Extras: (b-4, lb-3, w-2, nb-7) 16.
Total: (three wickets; 90 overs) 374

Fall of wickets: 1-72, 2-149, 3-319

To bat: I. Bell, M. Prior, S. Broad, G. Swann, T. Bresnan, S. Finn.

Bowling: Shahadat 12-2-50-0 (w-2 nb-2), Rubel 13-0-79-1 (nb-5), Shakib 21-2-80-0, Naeem, 11-1-38-0, Mahmudullah 14-1-45-1, Razzak 17-1-71-1, Aftab 1-0-2-0, Tamim 1-0-2-0

Source: REUTERS
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