Bangladesh 248 (Tamim 78, Mushfiqur 48, Stokes 4-26) trail England 293 (Moeen 68, Bairstow 52, Mehedi 6-80) by 45 runs
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‘Bangladesh made it tough for us’ – Batty
Ben Stokes produced a superb spell of hostile reverse-swing bowling to rattle through Bangladesh’s tail and secure a precious 45-run lead on the third morning of the first Test at Chittagong.
After resuming on 221 for 5 overnight, Bangladesh’s hopes of closing in on England’s own total of 293 received a devastating early blow when Shakib Al Hasan, their most senior batsman, came galloping down the pitch to Moeen Ali’s second delivery of the day and was stumped by three yards by Jonny Bairstow.
Adil Rashid, who had been off the pace on the second day, was thrown the ball with Bangladesh’s tailenders in his sights and responded with the scalp of the nightwatchman, Shafiul Islam, who slogged a looping legbreak into the hands of Stuart Broad at mid-on for 2.
Thereafter, it was over to Stokes, whose late dismissal of Mushfiqur Rahim on the second evening had been so vital in keeping England in the contest. Though the new ball had been due within six overs of the start of play, Alastair Cook trusted his man to produce more of the same, and he duly delivered with three more wickets to complete innings figures of 4 for 26 in 14 overs, including 4 for 10 in his last ten.
With the ball moving both ways seemingly at will, from over and round the wicket, Stokes was threatening left- and right-handers alike on both sides of the bat, as well as flush on the helmet, when he pinned the debutant Sabbir Rahman with a pinpoint bouncer.
Mehedi Hasan, also on debut, was the first of his morning’s victims, as he bent one back into his pads to trap him in front of leg, and with his tail up, Stokes extracted the last two men in the space of four balls. Sabbir was scooped up at slip by Cook, as Stokes went wider on the crease to attack the splice, before Kamrul Islam Rabbi left a straight one to have his off stump plucked out for a duck.
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo