Bangladesh battle on

England’s hopes of a quick kill in the second test ended on Saturday as Bangladesh saved some face by wrenching the match into a third day. The touring side, outclassed throughout the series and needing 343 to make England bat again after a maiden century from Ian Bell, produced a stubborn rearguard display on the second day to close on 296 for eight.

A quick defeat, to go with the innings-and-261-run reverse at Lord’s, seemed on the cards when Michael Vaughan declared the England innings on 447 for three at lunch, with a minimum of 60 overs left in the day.

Bangladesh had only managed 108, 159 and 104 in their three previous visits of the series, each time being bowled out inside 40 overs.

But, despite a late three-wicket burst in nine balls from seamer Matthew Hoggard which allowed England to claim an extra half hour to try to wrap up victory, the tourists clung on. (Reuters)

Brief scores

Bangladesh: 104 and 296/8 (J Omar 71, H Bashar 63, A Ahmed 67; Hoggard 3/62, Flintoff 3/58) vs England 447/3 decl (I Bell 162 no, G Thorpe 66 no, M Trescothick 151, Mortaza 2/95).