All-rounder Ben Stokes puts England back in the game

All-rounder Ben Stokes gave England a firm grip on the first Test with bat and ball before spinner Shakib Al Hasan's 5-79 revived Bangladesh hopes in Chittagong yesterday

Ben Stokes

Chittagong: All-rounder Ben Stokes gave England a firm grip on the first Test with bat and ball before spinner Shakib Al Hasan's 5-79 revived Bangladesh hopes in Chittagong yesterday.

Stokes hit 85 runs in the second innings to steer England to 228-8 at stumps on the third day after his three-wicket burst earlier in the morning helped them dismiss the home team for 248 runs.

The visitors now lead their hosts by 273 runs, which could be handy on a pitch that offered spinners plenty of turn, making life difficult for batsmen from both sides.

Stokes appeared to have mastered the wicket with his feisty innings, which came off 151 balls with six fours and three sixes. Jonny Bairstow gave him a good company as the duo shared 127 for the sixth wicket to bail out England from a precarious 62-5 in the second innings. "If we can get up to 320 it will be nice," Stokes said.

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