Day four photos

Determined batting by Bangladesh gave them hope of victory over England in the first Test at Dhaka.

They were 245-6 - a lead of 153 - when the umpires suspended play because of bad light, with Mushfiqur Rahman 43 not out and Khaled Mahmud on 17.

It was a tough day for England, whose best spell came either side of lunch when they took four wickets for 42.

Hannan Sarkar (59) and Habibul Bashar (58) cleared the first innings deficit with a second wicket stand of 108.

But England will go into the final day with the view that if they can knock over the final four wickets quickly, they would still have time enough to win the game, albeit on a wearing surface offering turn and occasional low bounce.

The tourists had to wait until the final ball before lunch before achieving their first success of the day.

Bashar survived on five when he appeared to glove a catch to wicket-keeper Chris Read when he attempted to pull a ball from Matthew Hoggard.

But the luck evened itself out later in the day when Hoggard won an lbw decision against Javed Omar (27) despite the ball striking the pads via the inside edge.

England's bowling lacked inspiration during the morning, although Hoggard and Steve Harmison, in particular, shed plenty of perspiration in an effort to seperate Bashar and Sarkar.

It was not to be and Bashar dealt authoritatively with anything short of a length as he moved to a 97-ball half century - the 18th time he had passed fifty in Tests.

An error of judgment cost him his wicket to the final ball before lunch as he pushed at a wide one from Batty and slip fielder Marcus Trescothick accepted the chance at the second attempt.

Hussain's catch to dismiss Mashud was the England highlight of the day

Alok Kapali departed for 12 soon after the re-start as he skied an attempted pull to Mark Butcher at square leg and Hoggard was rewarded when Sarkar gave Trescothick his second catch of the day.

From 120-1, Bangladesh had slumped to 148-4 and they lost another wicket before tea when Khaled Mashud pushed forward to Ashley Giles and Nasser Hussain swooped to take a brilliant one-handed catch at short leg.

The match was again England's for the taking if they could press home their advantage in the final session, but with Harmison running out of steam and the spinners ineffective, Mushfiqur Rahman and Omar added 43 for the sixth wicket.

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Omar's unlucky dismissal earned umpire Asoka de Silva a verbal bashing from home fans, who maintained a wall of sound in support of their team throughout the final session.

Mushfiqur maintained his concentration and emerged from a defensive shell to cover drive Harmison to the boundary just before the close and extend Bangladesh's lead past 150.

Bangladesh: Hannan Sarkar, Javed Omar, Habibul Bashar, Rajin Saleh Alok Kapali, Khaled Mashud (Capt), Khaled Mahmud, Mohammad Rafique, Enamul Haque jnr, Mashrafe Mortaza Mushfiqur Rahman.

England: M E Trescothick, M P Vaughan (Capt), M A Butcher N Hussain, G P Thorpe, R Clarke, C M W Read (Wkt), G J Batty A F Giles, M J Hoggard, S J Harmison.