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23-Mar-2010 11:35:00 GMT
Bangladesh v England, 2nd Test, 4th day, Dhaka

Swann & Broad Strike to Give England Victory Chance

Dhaka: England need a big final day on their tour of Bangladesh to wrap up a 2-0 Test series win after another tough shift on the flat Mirpur wicket.

Bangladesh were 172-6 in their second innings after day four, leading by 95, with captain Shakib Al Hasan on 25.

Graeme Swann took 2-38 and Stuart Broad (2-37) struck late in the day to take the big wicket of Mushfiqur Rahim.

Earlier, Tim Bresnan was ninth out for 91 as England converted their overnight 440-8 into a satisfactory 496 all out.

Having been 74 not out overnight, Bresnan played conservatively approaching a possible century in only his second Test innings, before a foray down the track at Abdur Razzak resulted in him being well stumped by Rahim.

England's batting in the first innings chasing a good total from their opponents was a fine effort, and something that the Bangladeshi batsmen may do well to learn from chipleader

For Bangladesh to conjure a rare Test win from that position, only a fast start to their second innings - while keeping wickets in hand - would allow them to recapture the momentum they had established during the opening day and a half.

However, luck has not often been with the home side in this match. And things continued in that vein when Imrul Kayes contrived to deflect a loose delivery from Broad that was heading down the leg-side back on to his stumps off his thigh-pad to leave Bangladesh on 28-1 at lunch.

One player did live a charmed life, and that was Tamim Iqbal. An edged push at Tredwell before lunch hit Matt Prior's pad when it might have carried to Paul Collingwood at slip, and in the afternoon he continued to keep England interested.

Another edge from the left-hander again evaded Collingwood, this time to the fielder's left, but it seemed on 47 his innings would end when a drive to a wider delivery from Tredwell spooned gently to Jonathan Trott at point.

However the England fielder somehow contrived to drop the catch as his captain Alastair Cook looked on in bemused fashion.

It could have been an expensive error given how well Tamim has performed throughout England's tour, but he was clearly having a day off. He had only added a further five runs when he tried a similar shot against Swann, and this time Broad accepted the chance in the same position that Trott had suffered his brain-fade.

Bangladesh's problems increased early in the final session when Bresnan, again bowling intelligently as he made the most of the slight hint of reverse swing England were able to conjure, had Mahmudullah groping outside off-stump to edge to Prior before he had established himself at the crease.

Swann's second wicket followed when a big-turning off-break spun through Jahurul's defences to knock back his off-stump, and suddenly an England victory looked the most probable result.

Rahim, having been a little lucky to survive an lbw appeal against Broad, perished from the very next ball when another inswinger scuttled through his defences and bowled him.

Shakib, who had only one dicey moment when he was squared up by a good delivery from Steven Finn, squirting the ball through the vacant gully, will try to pick up the pieces on Wednesday morning alongside Shafiul Islam.

There is still hope for Bangladesh as they seek what would be a morale-boosting draw. Shakib has a Test century to his name while Shafiul scored a half-century in the first innings batting at number 10.

Brief scores
England:
496 (Bell 138, Bresnan 91, Shakib 4-124) by 95 runs
Bangladesh: 419 and 172 for 6 (Shakib 25*, Shafiul 0*)
Status: Bangladesh lead by 95 runs


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