Luke Wright’s breathtaking 68-ball 142 dominated his impressive all-round display on senior captaincy debut as England Lions thumped Bangladesh A by 202 runs at Bristol.
The 28-year-old’s hundred, which arrived from 51 balls, and another from Gary Ballance came as the Lions’ fourth-wicket pair flayed 225 in 20.1 overs en route to a total of 353 for four.
Wright was one of three Lions bowlers to strike twice as the tourists were dismissed with 18 deliveries unused to succumb meekly in the first of three 50-over matches between the sides.
Wright loss the toss, but that was as bad as his day got. He came to the crease in the 29th over, when James Taylor fell to Naeem Islam for 40, and proceeded to take the touring attack apart with 10 sixes and 11 fours.
Ballance struck 10 fours and four maximums before becoming Al-Amin Hossain’s second victim on 115 from 89 balls.
Bangladesh saw Anamul Haque go second ball to Boyd Rankin and could not develop a meaningful partnership, losing their last five wickets for eight runs.
Danny Briggs returned 2-37 from 10 overs but Wright and Michael Carberry needed just six deliveries each for their respective pair of breakthroughs.