Malan hits the heights to give England a lift

DAWID IS BANG IN FORM AS TOPLEY HAS A BALL

- Dean Wilson

IN THE foothills of the Himalayas, England powered past Bangladesh to put their World Cup campaign back on track.

Retaining the trophy in just under six weeks' time remains their Everest and the thinner around air Dharamshala was just perfect for Dawid Malan and Reece Topley.

Malan sent the ball soaring into the stands at regular intervals during his match-winning 140 while Topley made a stunning World Cup debut with 4-43 from his left arm seam bowling.

The 137-run victory was exactly what the doctor or Sherpa ordered for skipper Jos Buttler and his team, who were under pressure to show the sort of ability to bounce back that has become their hallmark.

With Malan's fourth hundred of the year and highest ODI score of his career providing the foundation, a target of 365 for Bangladesh was always going to be too steep - and so it proved.

At 36, Malan's time is now.

He has had to wait patiently for his chance to become a first-choice player in England's ODI side due to the quality of those who have gone before him.