Harmison, Trescothick tighten England's grip

An unbeaten 77 from Marcus Trescothick fuelled a robust reply by England after Bangladesh were dismissed for 203 on day two of the inaugural Test between the two sides in Dhaka. Steve Harmison completed his first five-wicket haul in Tests, while there was a promising debut for Gareth Batty, who took a wicket in his first over. At stumps England were 111 without loss, just 92 runs behind.

On a pitch of sufficiently uneven bounce to maintain a shred of doubt in the minds of the batsmen throughout the day, England maintained firm control of the match although Bangladesh battled throughout, showing signs of growing maturity at this level.

As England began their reply, Mushfiqur Rahman was convinced he had Vaughan caught behind with a full-length delivery which brushed his pad on the way through. There was enough doubt in the mind of umpire Aleem Dar to ensure Vaughan's survival, and the England captain, after a hesitant start, threw off some of the shackles as the session progressed. Crucially for his team, he and his opening partner will take fresh guard in the morning.

Trescothick continued his rich vein of form, with an innings that was punctuated with regal drives, straight and square. He went to his 50 (81 balls, nine fours) with an almost disdainful pull off a short ball from Rahman. It was an awesome display, which confirms his current position among the world's top ten batsmen. He hoisted England's hundred with a magnificent six over midwicket off Enamul Haque Junior.

The day got off to an attritional start in hot, humid conditions, with play getting under way at 9.30 after the ground staff did well to mop up following yet more heavy rain overnight. Matthew Hoggard made England's first breakthrough in the eighth, ending a stubborn innings by the Bangladesh opener Hannan Sarkar. Having taken 76 balls to make 20, he was bowled by a delivery that cut back in from a full length.

That was 38 for three, which became 40 for four in the next over when Harmison took his third wicket of the innings. Saleh fenced at a short delivery, which looped up for wicket-keeper Chris Read to run back to his left to collect the catch.

The 14th over of the morning was Batty's first in Test cricket, and it could hardly have gone better. Alok Kapali, after making 28 with four boundaries and without the vestige of an error, ill-advisedly left the third ball, watching it turn naturally into his off stump. Batty completed a wicket maiden, and it wasn't until his fourth over that he conceded his first run.

Khaled Mashud joined Rahman to see Bangladesh through to three figures by lunch, continuing their resistance well into the afternoon session. Mashud was missed off Hoggard when Vaughan couldn't clasp a difficult, diving chance with his right hand at mid-off as the batsman drove too soon at a slower ball.

It was Rahman who fell for 34 with the score on 132, hit on the boot by an inswinging yorker from Hoggard, who then trapped the Bangladesh captain Khaled Mahmud lbw. Mohammad Rafique immediately asserted himself with sixes off Batty and Ashley Giles, before Mashud completed his maiden Test half century.

After providing the backbone of Bangladesh's middle-order revival, Mashud provided Rikki Clarke with his first Test wicket, lbw hitting across the line. His patient 51 had come off 129 balls with four boundaries. Two more sixes followed from Rafique, who also edged Hoggard just short of Trescothick at first slip. The new ball then polished the hosts off, Harmison twice hitting timber to dismiss Rafique and Mashrafe Mortaza.

From the depths of 72 for five it was a feisty recovery by Bangladesh, but it was put into context by the contrasting ease of England's reply, which has laid the foundations for a substantial first-innings lead.