Alastair Cook and Ben Duckett put up exactly 100 runs in their unbroken opening stand as England made a strong start in their chase of 273-run target in the second Test against Bangladesh today.
In their first positive start of the series, Duckett completed his maiden Test fifty to reach 56 not out at tea on the third day while Cook remained unbeaten on 39 as the visitors came within 173 runs of a clean sweep.
Adil Rashid and Ben Stokes did their part with the ball earlier, sharing seven wickets between them to help the visitors dismiss Bangladesh for 296 runs in the second innings.
Leg-spinner Rashid took a catch off his own bowling to remove last man Kamrul Islam to finish with 4-52 while Stokes also snapped 3-52.
Shuvagata Home was unbeaten on 25 as Bangladesh added 28 runs with the last three wickets resuming the play at the lunch break with 268-7.
England had the chance to dismiss Bangladesh with a cheaper total had they not dropped a series of catches, which allowed Bangladesh to build on their overnight 152-3
Imrul Kayes was the first wicket to fall on Sunday as he departed for 78 but not before being dropped twice in the slips.
Cook dropped Kayes on 66 off Zafar Ansari before Joe Root grassed his catch at 74 off Moeen Ali.
Moeen finally trapped Kayes' leg before but England proved unable to grasp their opportunities.
Jonny Bairstow missed a simple stumping chance off Ansari when Shakib Al Hasan was on 16.
Ansari was denied again by Duckett, who dropped a simple catch at deep midwicket to give Shakib a second lease of life on 23.
Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim also had his share of luck when he was dropped by Steven Finn off Ansari on six.
Rashid began his haul bowling Shakib for 41 and Rahim fell before another run had been added.
Rahim edged Stokes to Cook at slip for nine before Rashid took his second wicket of the morning trapping Sabbir Rahman leg before for 15. The visitors heaved a sigh of relief when their key batsman Root returned to the field Sunday after suffering a stomach upset.
The 25-year-old had left the field in the evening session on the second day and it had been uncertain whether he would take any further part in the game.
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