England pile on the pressure (From Haringey Independent)

England pile on the pressure

6:12am Monday 15th March 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
•  

England made early inroads into the Bangladesh second innings as they pushed to wrap up victory on day four of the first Test.

Having started the day 434 ahead, Ian Bell and Graeme Swann compiled a brisk 65-run partnership as the tourists extended their lead to 512 before declaring.

That meant the Tigers would either have to bat out five and a half sessions or shatter the world record for a fourth-innings chase, but they looked like doing neither after losing both openers before lunch.

Alastair Cook turned to Swann to make the breakthrough.

Though he did not add to his remarkable record of taking wickets in his first over, he bowled Tamim Iqbal (14) with a fine delivery in his second, turning it past the batsman's outside edge.

Imrul Kayes fell three balls before the scheduled lunch break, nicking Steven Finn to Prior behind the stumps to make it 45 for two at the break.