Bangladesh ahead in topsy-turvy Test

Bangladesh made a confident start in the second innings thanks to some fluent batting by their top-order after Chris Woakes and Adil Rashid shared 99 runs for the ninth wicket to give England a vital 24-run first innings lead. The host leads by 128 runs.

Published : Oct 29, 2016 10:57 IST , Dhaka

Imrul Kayes, unbeaten on 59, shared a 86-runs third wicket stand with Mahmudullah to help the home side claw back its advantage.
Imrul Kayes, unbeaten on 59, shared a 86-runs third wicket stand with Mahmudullah to help the home side claw back its advantage.
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Imrul Kayes, unbeaten on 59, shared a 86-runs third wicket stand with Mahmudullah to help the home side claw back its advantage.

Left-arm spinner Zafar Ansari dismissed Mahmudullah Riyad off the final ball of the day to bring England back into the contest in the second Test after Bangladesh surged ahead with 152-3 at stumps on the second day.

>Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Bangladesh made a confident start in the second innings thanks to some fluent batting by their top-order after Chris Woakes and Adil Rashid shared 99 runs for the ninth wicket to give England a vital 24-run first innings lead.

The host wiped out the deficit quickly and went for almost five runs an over in the final session to put the pressure back on England before Ansari's late strike restored some parity for the visitor. Ansari had earlier removed Tamim Iqbal for 40 to make the first innings century maker his maiden Test wicket and two balls later Ben Stokes got rid of Mominul Haque to put a brake on Bangladesh's breakneck speed.

But Imrul Kayes, unbeaten on 59, and Mahmudullah shared 86 runs for the third wicket to help the home side claw back its advantage. It was leading England by 128 runs at the end of the second day's play with seven wickets in hand, which must have given it high hopes for setting a decent target for England to chase in the fourth innings.

"I think a lead of 300 would be good enough," said Bangladesh off-spinner Mehedi Hasan, who starred with 6-82 in England's innings. "You cannot determine anything at the moment because there is still a lot of cricket left in the remaining three days."

Bangladesh dominated the opening session of the day to claim five wickets putting England on the ropes before Woakes and Rashid staged a fightback. Woakes made 46 while Rashid added an unbeaten 44 to lift England to 244 from a precarious 144-8, giving it a handy 24-run lead in the first innings.

"I think the partnership was crucial between us," Woakes said after the second day's play. "The slim lead surely added some advantage. The game would have different if we were 80 runs behind."

Their die-hard batting overshadowed the bowling heroics of Bangladesh's teenage spin sensation Mehedi, who completed his second five-wicket haul in as many matches. Mehedi broke the partnership with the second new ball when he forced an edge from Woakes at slip and five balls later left-arm spinner Taijul Islam, who claimed 3-65, wrapped up England's innings.

England could have been dismissed a little earlier if Woakes was not given a reprieve when Sabbir Rahman had him caught by Mahmudullah for 38 with a full toss delivery. Replay confirmed the ball was above the waist prompting the umpires to call Woakes back.

Resuming on 50-3, England found itself in deep trouble in the morning session before Joe Root offered some resistance with a resolute 56 off 122 balls. Jonny Bairstow, who made 24, gave him some support in their 45-run sixth wicket stand.

Mehedi, who claimed seven wickets in Bangladesh's 22-run loss in the first Test, including 6-80 in a single innings, again drew first blood, bowling overnight batsman Moeen Ali for 10 in the third over. Taijul removed Stokes, the man of the match in the first Test, for a duck two overs later before Root and Bairstow repaired England innings.

Mehedi returned for his second spell to hit Bairstow plumb in front in his first ball, ending their resistance. Taijul removed Root almost identically to expose England's tail after Mehedi complete his five-wicket haul with the wicket of Ansari.

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