Stokes, Bairstow help England build 273-run lead despite Shakib five-for

A decisive century stand between Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow has outshone a splendid Shakib Al Hasan five-wicket haul to give England the edge over Bangladesh in the first Test.

The tourists were in dire straits at 62 for five at one stage but Stokes (85) and Bairstow (47) combined for a 127-run partnership on Saturday.

By the end of play, England reached 228-8 for an overall lead of 273. Chris Woakes (11) and Stuart Broad (10) were unbeaten at the crease at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong.

Stokes had earlier produced a superb spell to return 4-26 on a pitch largely unresponsive to pace bowling. A batting collapse in the morning session saw Bangladesh lose five wickets for just 27 runs and eventually dismissed for 248.

Shakib took 5-79, including his 150th Test wicket, and surpassed former Indian southpaw Bishan Singh Bedi with his 15th five-wicket haul in the format as a left-arm spinner.

But much hinged on him when Bangladesh had gone out to bat in the morning, and his response was poor.

Bangladesh had the opportunity to get their noses in front after resuming on 221-8 but Shakib fell in the second ball of the day.

The allrounder inexplicably danced down the track to Moeen Ali. The ball spun past his swinging bat and Bairstow whipped off the bails to land the first blow of the morning. It was the ninth time Shakib had given the charge, managing just seven runs from them, and ended up throwing his wicket away.

Adil Rashid then took out nightwatchman Shafiul Islam (2) and Stokes produced good swing to pick out the rest, including the scalp of debutant Sabbir Rahman for 19 on review with a pitch-perfect bouncer.

When England came out to bat, they already had a 45-run advantage. Mushfiqur Rahim introduced spin from both ends in a bid to make early inroads.

Scoring runs became increasingly difficult on the spinning track and Bangladesh spinners were soon in business.

Bangladesh's five-wicket hero on debut, Mehedi Hasan Miraz got the breakthrough with the wicket of Alastair Cook, snapped up by Mahmudullah at the slips, for 12.

Shakib then snared his 150th scalp in Tests when he trapped Joe Root (1) in front. The southpaw struck again in his next over to dismiss Ben Duckett for 15 at the stroke of lunch as England lost three wickets in as many runs to slip to 28-3.

The morning session accounted for just 55 runs at the expense of eight wickets.

After the break, Shakib and Taijul Islam sent back Moeen (14) and Gary Ballance (9), respectively, but the bowlers toiled under the baking hot sun. Stokes and Bairstow then came together to steady the ship.

Stokes propped up his team with some clean hitting, smashing six boundaries and three sixes in his 151-ball innings, while Bairstow's 95-ball 47 was more restrained.

Mushfiqur kept searching for wickets in energy-sapping conditions but the partnership proved a thorn as Stokes hit his seventh Test half-century to take England's lead past 200.

Bairstow went back first to give pacer Kamrul Islam Rabbi his maiden Test wicket before Stokes was adjudged lbw off Shakib with the close of play approaching.

Shakib then rapped the pad of Rashid (9), allowing Mushfiqur to go for a clever review which eventually vindicated the hosts’ hunch. The daylight died out but the umpires were determined to continue the play until 90 overs and the floodlights were on.

With the Test all but certain to produce a result, England took a considerable step forward to seal the match as Bangladesh once again betrayed their inability to maintain intensity over a prolonged period.