Bangladesh 33 shy of win over England
The first test between England and Bangladesh remains finely poised with Bangladesh requiring 33 runs with two wickets remaining to take the lead in the two-match series.
Before bad light brought a premature end to the day, Bangladesh made 253-8, chasing 286 for victory after a seesaw battle on the fourth day.
Sabbir Rahman remained not out on 59 and will be crucial for Bangladesh to secure its first victory against England.
Rahman and Mushfiqur Rahim combined for an 87-run sixth-wicket partnership to raise the hope of a famous victory.
“Tomorrow if we bat 10-15 overs, we will get that target. We have to get in there, spend as much time as possible in the middle,” Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha said.
“I am a bit disappointed that we could have been ahead of the game in the first innings, more than what we are now. We are chasing the lead that we conceded in the first innings.”
England fought back in the late afternoon and claimed three wickets for 11 runs to leave Bangladesh on 238-8, before Taijul Islam (11 not out) helped Rahman weather the storm to keep Bangladesh alive. The home side kept the target attainable, bowling England out for 240 in its second innings early Sunday. England survived just 4.2 overs to add 12 runs to its overnight total of 228-8. BRIEF SCORES England 293 & 240 (B Stokes 85; S Al Hasan 5-85) lead
Bangladesh 248 & 253-8 (Sabbir Rahman 59*, Imrul Kayes 43)