Tamim, Moeen take first day's honours

There were wickets aplenty in Dhaka on the opening day of the second Test between Bangladesh and England on Friday (October 28). Bangladesh was all out for 220 in their first innings, losing the last nine wickets for just 49 runs after Tamim Iqbal’s century, with Moeen Ali, the offspinner, taking 5 for 57.

However, 12.3 overs into England’s innings, rain brought proceedings to a halt. By that stage, England had been reduced to 50 for 3, still trailing by 170 runs, leaving the second’s day play tantalisingly poised.

Mehedi Hasan Miraz, the offspinner, had Alastair Cook trapped in front for 14 and then sent Gary Ballance back for 9.

At stumps, Joe Root was unbeaten on 15, with Ali giving company on 2.

Earlier, England's bowlers had fought back splendidly after a strong show by Bangladesh's top order. Tamim Iqbal made a quickfire century, hitting 104 off 147 balls, before wickets tumbled in spectacular fashion.

Resuming the second session at 118 for 1, Bangladesh was steady, with Tamim and Mominul Haque extending their partnership to 170 runs for the second wicket. Tamim went on to score a fine century – his eighth Test ton – but was then trapped in front by Ali shortly thereafter. Before he fell, Bangladesh was 171 for 1, but with England's bowlers hunting in a pack, that turned into 220 all out.

Ali had Mominul bowled for 66, and the highest score a Bangladeshi batsman made from No.4 onwards was the 26-ball 13 posted by Mahmudullah.

Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes, the paceman, did their bit. Mahmudullah prodded Stokes to the slips and Mushfiqur Rahim, the captain, didn’t last long, falling to Ali for 4. Shakib Al Hasan hung around for a 32-ball 10 before being caught behind off Woakes. Sabbir Rahman was then sent back before he could add to the score, as Bangladesh went in to tea at 205 for 6.

It didn’t take long for England to nip through the tail on resumption. Shuvagata Hom (6), Mehedi Hasan Miraz (1) and Kamrul Islam Rabbi (0) all fell cheaply.

It was a display in stark contras to what panned out in the morning. Woakes provided the only bit of success for England when he removed Imrul Kayes, the opener, for 1 in his second over. Ben Duckett jumped high to take the catch above his head at point, as Kayes attempted a cut.

Tamim had made a cautious start, taking 20 balls to get off the mark, before he gained in confidence. Mominul helped Bangladesh shrug off some early jitters, hitting Woakes for two fours in the over that followed the pacer’s first wicket in the series.

Tamim soon opened up, completing his sixth half century against England off just 60 balls. He built very well from there on, but with the second half of the day providing for plenty of drama, the match remained evenly poised.