Dhaka, Oct 29: Chris Woakes and Adil Rashid shared 99 runs in the ninth wicket partnership to give England a vital 24-run first innings lead over Bangladesh in the second Test in Dhaka today.
Bangladesh took the last two wickets in six balls after new ball was available, wrapping up England’s first innings for 244 runs on the stroke of the tea break on the second day.
Woakes made 46 while Rashid added an unbeaten 44 to lift England from a precarious 144-8, giving them what looked like an unlikely lead after five wickets fell in the morning session.
Their die-hard batting overshadowed the bowling heroics of Bangladesh’s teenage off-spinner Mehedi Hasan who finished with 6-82, his second five-wicket haul in as many matches.
Mehedi broke the partnership 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 with the wicket of Steven Finn.
England’s innings could have ended 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 themselves in deep trouble in the morning session before Joe Root offered some resistance with 56 off 122 balls and 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 on the second day of the second Test, bowling overnight batsman Moeen Ali for 10 in the third over.
Taijul removed Ben Stokes, the man of the match in the first Test, for a duck two overs later as Mominul Haque took a diving catch at forward short leg.
Root and Bairstow resurrected England from a wobbly 69-5 before Mehedi returned for his second spell of the day to strike in the first ball and ended their partnership.
He hit Bairstow plumb in front and the batsman left the crease without waiting to review the leg-before decision.
Debutant Zafar Ansari survived a catch on the fifth ball he faced but could contribute just 13 before Mehedi forced him to offer a catch at slip to Shuvagata Hom to complete his five-wicket haul.
Taijul provided Bangladesh with a huge breakthrough when he hit Root plumb in his back foot to end his long fight and expose England’s tail. (Agencies)
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