England take total control

Collingwood smacks century and Swann takes wickets

Last updated: 14th March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

England take total control

Collingwood: 10th Test century

First Test Match
Chittagong
England 599-6 dec (A N Cook 173, P D Collingwood 145, K P Pietersen 99, I R Bell 84) v Bangladesh 154-5 (Tamim Iqbal 81 no, Mohammad Mahmudullah 51)

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Paul Collingwood smashed a century before Graeme Swann took three wickets as England took total control of the first Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong.

After just the second day a commanding victory looks on the cards after England declared their first innings on 599-6, and reduced the hosts to 154-5 by the close to leave them still trailing by 445 runs.

Skipper Alastair Cook fell just short of a double century but still recorded a career-best knock of 173 before Collingwood opened his shoulders after passing a hundred to make 145, while Ian Bell added 84 before the declaration.

Broad did the early damage in Bangladesh's response to leave the hosts on 27-2, and Swann took a wicket in his first over and grabbed two more to leave them in big trouble.

Tamim Iqbal was not out on 81 after his defiant innings, but with only five wickets remaining and still trailing by 445, Bangladesh are staring down the barrel of a heavy loss.

Shot making

Collingwood resumed on 32 and brought up England's 400 by thumping Shakib Al Hasan for six over long-on and ensured his own half-century with a jab to extra-cover.

Then, after nearly seven hours at the crease, Cook gave his wicket away in the softest of fashions, caught and bowled by Mahmudullah off a top-edged pull.

Collingwood and new batsman Bell added fifty at a run-a-ball, and Collingwood brought up his 10th Test century by calmly guiding the wayward Shahadat Hossain to third man.

Bell hammered the next delivery through the covers for four to bring up yet another England half-century, and the two men continued to plunder the runs with Collingwood firing another six down the ground just after being dropped on 199 by Shakib.

From there it became clear that the declaration was imminent, Collingwood peppering - and clearing - the boundary a handful of times before finally getting caught.

Bell was desperate to become his side's third centurion but was caught on 84 when going for another big hit, and his wicket saw Cook call the innings to an end.

Brisk start

Tamim offered an early indication of how he intended to approach Bangladesh's innings, slashing the first ball for four just past point, but Broad was in aggressive mood and in his next over struck Imrul Kayes flush on the helmet.

A follow-up bouncer unnerved the batsman further and a third saw him loop the ball to wicketkeeper Matt Prior, and Junaid Siddique followed for seven, fending another short-pitched delivery straight back to Broad to leave the hosts in deep trouble.

Swann took the 12th over and continued his uncanny habit of striking in his first over, although Aftab Ahmed may have been unlucky as there seemed little glove in his shot as he was caught by Bell at short leg for one.

Tamim hit his eighth four to bring up a 53-ball half-century, and Mahmudullah also made fifty but went for 51 when Swann caught a glove as the ball floated to Collingwood at slip.

Shakib looked set to reach stumps alongside Tamim but lost his off stump to Swann attempting a rash shot, and Nightwatchman Shahadat almost followed but the third umpire turned down England's appeal for caught at silly point.