England close in on four-day win

England were five wickets from victory at tea on day four of the first Test against Bangladesh.

Having set their opponents a mammoth 513-run chase, England soon accounted for both openers before three wickets fell in the afternoon session to leave the Tigers fighting to force a fifth day.

Graeme Swann added to his first innings five-for with two more victims, while Tim Bresnan also picked up two wickets in Bangladesh's 125 for five.

England's first objective was to add some quick runs to what was already a prohibitive lead but Matt Prior (seven) managed only one clean hit before skying a catch off Shakib Al Hasan.

Ian Bell (39no) hit four boundaries before smashing Abdur Razzak for a glorious straight six, with Swann chipping in with three fours in a breezy cameo worth 32.

Alastair Cook did not immediately call his men in after they eased the lead to 500, but when Swann fell switch-hitting at 209 for seven the decision was made. Despite hints of variable bounce Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes looked calm against the seamers, so Swann was quickly introduced.

Though he did not add to his remarkable record of taking wickets in his first over, he bowled Tamim (14) with a fine delivery in his second, turning it past the batsman's outside edge and clipping off stump.

Imrul fell three balls before lunch, nicking Steven Finn to wicketkeeper Prior to make it 45 for two at the break. Aftab Ahmed and Junaid Siddique both failed in the first innings and looked determined to make better impressions here.

But after a 54-run stand Bresnan snared Aftab on the drive, with Prior accepting a simple catch.

Mahmudullah came and went for five when Bresnan located just enough sideways movement to sneak between bat and bad and shatter the stumps. By now England's momentum was tangible and home captain Shakib could not halt it. Instead he fell lbw sweeping Swann on five, though there was a hint of glove on the way through.