Stokes keeps England in front

All-rounder makes 85 as visitors end third day 228-8 against Bangladesh.

CHITTAGONG: Ben Stokes gave England a firm grip on the first Test with bat and ball before Shakib alHasan’s 5-79 revived Bangladesh hopes in Chittagong yesterday.

Stokes hit 85 runs in the second innings to steer England to 228-8 at stumps on the third day after his three-wicket burst earlier in the morning helped them dismiss Bangladesh for 248 runs.



The visitors now lead their hosts by 273 runs, which could be handy on a pitch that offered spinners plenty of turn, making life difficult for batsmen from both sides.

Stokes appeared to have mastered the wicket with his feisty innings, which came off 151 balls with six fours and three sixes.

Jonny Bairstow gave him good company as the duo shared 127 for the sixth wicket to bail out England from a precarious 62-5 in the second innings.

Bairstow missed out on a very deserving half-century, leaving the pitch for 47 after he was played on by Kamrul Islam, the bowler’s maiden Test wicket and only wicket so far taken by a Bangladeshi seamer in the match.

Shakib soon trapped Stokes in front to end a highly impressive innings before he completed his 15th five-wicket haul with the scalp of Adil Rashid.



Chris Woakes (11 not out) and Stuart Broad (10 not out) remained at the crease overnight hoping to extend England’s advantage before they set the fourth innings target for Bangladesh.

“If we can get up to 320 it will be nice,” said Stokes after the match. “Broad has got a Test hundred while Woakes had got nine to 10 first class centuries, so there is no reason why these two cannot get another 50 for us.”

Bangladesh’s pace bowling coach Courtney Walsh believes the game is still open. “Probably, England got about 20-30 runs more than what we would have liked at this stage. I think the bowlers fought very well today.”

“For me the game is still in the balance. We have to bat well second time around,” he said.



Shakib led Bangladesh’s fightback before the lunch break leaving England at 28-3 after the visitors took a 45-run lead in the first innings.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 23^rd, 2016.

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