England in charge despite mid-afternoon setback

England won two sessions out of three to end the first day in a reasonable position, despite losing four wickets for eight runs soon after lunch in the second Test at Chittagong. A maiden Test half century from Rikki Clarke helped to repair the damage, and at stumps England were on 237 for four.

England's mid-session tribulations could hardly have been foreseen at lunch, after Michael Vaughan and Marcus Trescothick had seen them serenely through to 88 without loss. At that point Vaughan had just completed his second successive half century, and Khaled Mahmud must have doubted his decision to bowl first, perhaps influenced by yesterday's heavy rain.

Trescothick had a let-off on 36 just after the break, as a square drive off Mahmud eluded Mushfiqur Rahman. Reprieved, the Somerset left-hander took heavy toll of Enamul Haque Junior, going to his 50 with a straight drive and following with a six over midwicket that took him past 3,000 runs in Tests.

The Bangladesh captain made the first breakthrough in the next over, as a second, easier chance was safely held by Rahman at backward point. Trescothick's 60 had included five fours and three resounding sixes. England were 126 for one, but even then there was no hint of the collapse to follow, as a double bowling change by Mahmud reaped almost unimaginable dividends.

Mark Butcher was bowled for just six, playing back to Mohammad Rafique. When Vaughan (54) was caught behind in the next over, driving at Mashrafe Mortaza, England had slipped to 134 for three. Without addition Graham Thorpe unluckily got an inside edge on to his stumps from Mortaza, and England had done another Dhaka.

Hussain and Clarke set about an urgently needed repair job, with Clarke particularly productive on the leg side as he took five boundaries before tea. The two progressed watchfully afterwards, and although Hussain was missed on 36 as Rafique failed to hold on to a firm return drive, the third session belonged to England much as the first had done.

Stung by a sharply turning ball from Haque that missed his outside edge, Clarke went imperiously to 50 off the next ball, with four through mid-on. The new ball induced a sweetly timed boundary from Hussain, off his toes through midwicket, and England's second century partnership of the day was completed in the final over.

England's team shows two changes from the side that won the first Test, bringing in Richard Johnson for Steve Harmison, who is flying home for a scan on his back injury. Martin Saggers is also included to strengthen the seam attack, making his Test debut in place of Gareth Batty.