A steadfast half-century from former Outlaw Tamim Iqbal saw Bangladesh end day two in Chittagong 72 runs adrift of England’s 293, with five first innings wickets remaining.
The Bangladesh left-hander reigned in his usual attacking instincts to make 78 at the top of the order, whilst the experienced trio of Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan all made contributions.
At the start of the day, England enjoyed a nightmare start as, resuming on 258-7, they lost Chris Woakes to the first ball of the day, prodding to short leg off Taijul Islam for 36.
Stuart Broad and Adil Rashid moved England up towards the 300 mark, the Nottinghamshire left hander sweeping two fours off the Bangladesh spin attack.
The partnership was broken when Rashid (26) was brilliantly caught at extra cover to give Islam his second wicket of the day.
Broad (13) was the last wicket to fall as a record tenth review of the innings went against him, which showed him edging behind with the faintest of edges to give Mehedi Hasan his sixth victim, the 18-year old debutant finishing with figures of 6 for 80.
The end of the morning session belonged to another of the talented spinners on show, as Moeen Ali produced two spitting deliveries to removed Imrul Kayes (21) and Mominul Haque (0), Bangladesh going to the break on 29-2.
Iqbal and Mahmudullah returned after the break and stifled the England spin attack, adding 90 for the third wicket in 29.3 overs.
Rashid ensured England didn’t go into tea wicketless as he found Mahmudullah’s (38) edge in the last over before the interval to break the partnership.
Gareth Batty, who has been out of the international arena for 11 years, then ended the resistance of Iqbal, the Bangladesh opener caught behind for 78 from 179 balls.
The seamers finally had something to cheer about when Ben Stokes got captain Rahim caught behind for 48, before Bangladesh saw out until close to finish 221-5.
Despite Bangladesh’s run rate sitting at just under three an over throughout their first innings, 39-year-old Batty believes England’s spinners could have bowled better on the second day.
“I should have gone for 40 runs rather than 50,” he said.
“I felt pretty nervous opening the bowling for England! It's what you dream about, even for the old fellas like me! As the day went on I got into my spells and bowled fractionally better, so it was tough."
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