Bangladesh spinners found England top-order wanting in the second innings after a record 113-run eighth wicket partnership between Mushfiqur Rahim and Nayeem Islam, but still the visitors were in the driver's seat at the end of the third day's play of the first Test at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium here yesterday.
Left-arm spinners Shakib Al Hasan and Abdur Razzak equally shared four wickets as England were reduced to 131 for five in their second innings but it was already good enough for them to extend their lead to 434 runs by stumps after they gained a 303-run lead in the first innings.
England off-spinner Graeme Swann claimed five wickets for 90 runs but the day's highlight was the batting of Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur, who together with Nayeem made a new eighth wicket record for Bangladesh. The previous best was 87 made by Mohammad Ashraful and Mohammad Rafique in West Indies in 2004.
Everybody was looking to local hero Tamim Iqbal when Bangladesh resumed their innings on 154 for five. But the left-hander could manage to add only five runs to his overnight score of 81 as a beautiful delivery from paceman Tim Bresnan put an end to his brilliant knock. Tamim was almost helpless as the ball clipped his off stump.
Bangladesh went for lunch at 239 for seven when night-watchman Shahadat Hossain was dismissed by pacer Steve Finn for 14 runs.
But the visitors had to work harder than expected to wrap up the Bangladesh innings as resistance came from Mushfiqur and Nayeem. Both the batsman showed real Test-match temperament, especially Mushfiqur set an example for the top-order batsmen during his 152-ball 79 that contained 15 boundaries. It was nice to watch for everybody the way the little right-hander showed his respect to the good deliveries and punished the bad balls.
The partnership came to an unfortunate end as Nayeem, who added 38 runs, ran blindly for a second run only to fall short of his crease. Nayeem's dismissal saw Bangladesh innings survive only three more balls.
Swann got the prize wicket of Mushfiqur but thanks must go to substitute fielder James Tredwell who took a blinder at short midwicket.
The Tigers' innings ended at 296 runs 40 minutes before the tea break which gave England the huge first innings lead, but visiting skipper Alastair Cook didn't enforce the follow-on to give his bowlers rest.
Cook, who hit his career best 173 in the first innings, and Michael Carberry gave the tourists a good start once again, but Mahmudullah Riyad made the breakthrough by removing Cook for 39 runs.
England then lost wickets at regular intervals, but they still left the field in comfort as they were all set to give Bangladesh a daunting task to chase.