Cricket: England win against Bangledesh

Michael Vaughan emerged from his personal slump to provide victory with a flourish - but nothing could hide his and England's relief today at denying improving newcomers Bangladesh their first ever Test match triumph.

The Yorkshire batsman hit an unbeaten 81 off 114 balls and helped complete a seven-wicket triumph shortly after lunch on the final day at the National Stadium to extend Bangladesh's wait for their first win and inflict their 24th defeat in 25 Tests.

His composure at the crease - which contrasted starkly with his struggles during a first-innings 48 - enabled the tourists to race past their victory target in only 39.2 overs and overcome the dismissals of in-form Marcus Trescothick and Mark Butcher before lunch which could have caused considerable nervousness in the dressing room.

Today's innings, which included 12 boundaries, also marked Vaughan's first half-century since he succeeded Nasser Hussain as captain last summer and showed the first signs of returning to the form which enabled him to finish as Test cricket's leading run-scorer in 2002.

But as welcome as the captain's return to form was, the manner of England's victory would have been equally cherished after they began the final day with the chilling prospect of becoming the first side ever to lose against a Bangladesh line-up officially recognised as the worst Test team in the world.