England and Bangladesh head into the final day of the first Test in Chittagong both chasing victory after a thrilling fourth day ended with the hosts 253-8 in pursuit of 286 for an historic triumph.

Debutant Sabbir Rahman, unbeaten on 59, will have to shepherd the tail for the final 33 runs after Stuart Broad produced a spirited spell in the evening session when it looked like Bangladesh were favourites to seal the win.

Earlier in the day, England lost their final two wickets in quick succession, adding just 12 runs to their overnight score of 228-8.

Broad was run out for ten before Gareth Batty was LBW to Taijul Islam, England all out for 240 setting Bangladesh 286 for victory on a deteriorating pitch.

Bangladesh openers made candid start before Moeen Ali got the breakthrough when he had Tamim Iqbal caught at short leg for 9.

Imrul Kayes’ platform innings was then ended for 41 as he gloved Rashid attempting to sweep, giving Joe Root an easy catch.

Bangladesh reached lunch on 81-2 with Mominul Haque (19*) growing in confidence. He did however survive an lbw appeal off Moeen Ali with replays showing the decision would have been overturned if England had reviewed the decision.

Batty got the first of his two wickets in seven balls to put England back in the ascendency, when he had Haque (27) trapped LBW before then trapping Mahmudullah (17) in front to reduce the hosts to 108-4.

Moeen Ali (2/60) then got rid of Shakib Al Hasan (24) with a sublime delivery as the batsmen feathered to Jonny Bairstow leaving England in control.

A sixth-wicket partnership between captain Mushfiqur Rahim and Rahman stifled the England attack, as they ticked down the runs with an 87-run partnership.

The partnership was finally broken when Batty (3/65) had his third victim, extra spin and bounce left the captain in a tangle, popping a diving catch to Ballance at short leg for 39. It left Bangladesh 59 runs away from beating England for the first time in test cricket.

Broad then got his just rewards for his sublime evening spell, 18-year-old Mehedi Hasan trapped LBW for one before Kamrul Islam Rabbi was caught at short leg without scoring, Bangladesh 238-8.

A dogged ninth-wicket partnership between Sabbir and Taijul left the game on a knife-edge and Broad is excited to be involved in the finale.

"It's tense - Test cricket never ceases to amaze. Tomorrow will be a nerve-wracking day. Bangladesh have played really well today,” said Broad.

"They have batted fantastically well. We'll come back fresh in the morning session, which has seen a lot of wickets fall in previous days. We now have a fine balance to make sure we don't concede too many runs but still take the wickets we need to win the game.

"I've played 99 games and I know I'll still only get three hours' kip tonight because of nerves. The key is to stop boundaries, we need to make them operate only in ones."

 

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