England close in on victory over Bangladesh in first Test
England made to wait to wrap up victory in first Test against Bangladesh as hosts close day four on 191-5
Also In The News
|
By Adam Leveridge
Fernando Alonso led a Ferrari one-two victory in his first race for the Maranello-based outfit in the opening grand prix of the 2010 formula one season in Bahrain. |  |
Monday, 15, Mar 2010 04:51
By Will Haine.
England look set to wrap up victory on the final day of the first Test against Bangladesh, after the hosts closed day four in Chittagong on 191-5 - still 321 runs behind.
Ian Bell and Graeme Swann added some quick runs to England's overnight total this morning to set the Tigers a world record fourth innings target of 513 to win the match.
Swann (2-61) then made early inroads for the tourists by dismissing the dangerous Tamim Iqbal, while debutant Steve Finn (1-31) and the accurate Tim Bresnan (2-45) further pegged back the hosts. Bangladesh captain Shakib al-Hasan then became Swann's seventh victim of the match, but Junaid Sidduque (68 not out) and Mushfiqur Rahim (47 not out) held firm until the close.
England began a swelteringly hot day four on 131-5 and were intent on playing some positive strokes from the outset. Matt Prior added a boundary from the second over of the morning, but he quickly perished for the cause when an attempted big hit off the bowling of Al Hasan (4-62) could only find the hands of Shahadat Hossain at mid-on.
Swann (32) was sent to the middle ahead of Stuart Broad with full licence to increase the tempo. And he was soon into his stride - sweeping a boundary through midwicket - while the confident Ian Bell (39 not out) had no trouble doing the same at the other end.
The Warwickshire batsman also crashed an imperious six over long-on to bring up the half-century stand between him and Swann from just 44 balls, and the latter played an audacious switch-hit four two balls later.
But the same shot was to be the England off-spinner's downfall when he played al-Hasan to Siddique at extra cover. The fall of wicket encouraged Alastair Cook to declare the innings with England on 209-7 and a mammoth 512 runs in front.
Swann was swiftly back into the action with the ball in his hand when he was called into the attack with only ten overs bowled. And the move paid almost immediate dividends - this time in his second over - when he beat Tamim's outside edge and rattled his off-stump.
Finn then added Tamim's opening partner, Imrul Kayes (23), three overs later with a sharp rising delivery which found then edge and went through to Prior for a regulation catch. The second wicket brought about an early lunch interval and a much needed respite for Bangladesh and, upon their return from the break, they began to show improved application.
Siddique and Aftab Ahmed (26) frustrated the England bowlers for nigh-on 90 minutes with some resolute defence, until Bresnan ended their 54-run stand when he induced Ahmed's edge and Prior comfortably took the catch. The Yorkshireman was beginning to find a hint of reverse-swing, and this proved to be the undoing of Mahmudullah - who was bowled of his pad three overs later.
Swann had continued to twirl away unchanged while the Bangladeshi batsmen dug in their heels, but his persistence paid off thanks to some poor umpiring. Al-Hasan fell victim to an unfortunate lbw decision from umpire Tony Hill, with replays clearly showing that the ball struck his gloves and not his pad while attempting a sweep. But, without the aid of the umpire review system in this Test series, al-Hasan did not have the opportunity to fight his corner as he saw his side slump from 99-2 to 110-5.
But Siddique further defied the England attack, bringing up a deserved 50 in the process, as he and Rahim played sensibly and watchfully until stumps: sharing 81 in 222 balls. The hosts will start day five still hopeful they can save the Test, but the sensible money will be on England taking a merited lead in the two match series.