Sabbir Rahman scored an unbeaten half-century but Bangladesh still require 33 runs for an win against England in the first Test in Chittagong on Sunday.
Set a target of 286 runs for victory, the Tigers reached 253-8 at close on the fourth day, with Sabbir remained unbeaten on 59 to keep their hopes alive.
Taijul Islam was accompanied him at sumps with 11 not out.
Sabbir shared 87 runs with skipper Mushfiqur Rahim to put Bangladesh in control before England seized back the initiative three quick wickets in the final session.
Gareth Batty broke their resistant stand when he left Rahim off-guard with an awkward bounce that forced the Bangladesh captain to give a catch at short leg to Gary Ballance for 39.
Stuart Broad then produced some reverse swing to remove Mehedi Hasan (one) and Kamrul Islam (duck), putting England back in the charge again.
Batty finished the day with 3-65 while Broad claimed 2-26, but Sabbir ensured Bangladesh did not lost their way completely with his gritty innings, which included three fours and two sixes.
The stumps were drawn early due to bad light as England were told they could operate with their spinners in their last five overs, which they did not agree.
England spinners earlier dismissed Bangladesh’s top five to leave them at 140-5 as Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid also chipped in with useful wickets.
Ali removed a positive-looking Sakib al Hasan for 24 as the all-rounder moved to rebuild the innings after Batty trapped Mominul Haque (27) and Mahmudullah (17) in the post-lunch session.
Rashid earlier claimed Imrul Kayes for 43 in the penultimate over before the lunch break, to bolster confidence in the English camp.
Imrul, who hit six fours in his 61-ball innings, looked well settled until he misjudged a sweep shot to get a top edge which flew to Joe Root at slip.
Moeen handed England their first breakthrough when he removed Tamim Iqbal for nine as Ballance took the catch at forward short leg.
Just one ball earlier, Tamim survived a review after Root took a catch that initially hit the body of a tumbling Ben Stokes at slip. The replay indicated there was no bat or glove involved.
England were earlier all out for 240 in their second innings in the fifth over of the morning, adding 12 runs to their overnight tally of 228-8.
Left-arm spinner Taijul trapped Gareth Batty leg before off his second ball after Stuart Broad was run out on his overnight score of 10. Chris Woakes was unbeaten on 19.
The second and final Test of the series will start in Dhaka on October 28.
Source: New Age
