FATULLAH, Bangladesh, (Reuters) – Returning all-rounder Stuart Broad grabbed five wickets to spare England’s blushes as they edged to a 16-run win over perennial whipping boys Canada in a World Cup warm-up match today.
Matt Prior hit 78 to guide England to a total of 243 all out but Canada came within touching distance of pulling off a famous win — albeit in an unofficial match — as Rizwan Cheema smashed a flamboyant 93 from 71 balls.
Broad, who played in his first match since December despite suffering from an upset stomach earlier in the week, put the brakes on their run chase when he dismissed Cheema and secured the win by trapping Khurram Chohan lbw for 44.
Broad picked up five for 37.
James Anderson missed the match with a stiff back.
Canada were all out for 227 runs in 46.1 overs after dismissing England with two balls to spare.
After choosing to bat, world Twenty20 champions England lost skipper Andrew Strauss (1) from the third ball of the second over as the opener sent a catch to his counterpart Ashish Bagai from pacer Khurram Chohan.
England lost two more wickets in succession with Kevin Pietersen (24) and Ian Bell (8) both failing before Trott and Prior advanced the score with 57 and 78 runs respectively.
Chohan and and Harvir Baidwan took three wickets apiece.
Trott struggled over 128 balls with only four boundaries while Prior faced 118 balls, hitting a six and four fours.
England, who are in Group B with co-hosts India, South Africa and West Indies, will play their first World Cup match against the Netherland on Feb. 22 in Nagpur.