Rahim leading the resistance

Mushfiqur Rahim hit a defiant half-century as Bangladesh scrapped to avoid the follow-on on day three of the first Test against England.

The tourists started in the ideal fashion, Tim Bresnan removing dangerman Tamim Iqbal for 85, but there was just one further wicket in the morning session.

Mushfiqur made a serene 51 not out in 91 balls as the Tigers moved to 239 for seven - with 161 needed to make England bat again.

Tamim, who reached stumps on day two on 81 not out, resumed needing just two runs to register the highest score by a Bangladeshi batsman against England.

He got them in the second over of the morning, slashing Stuart Broad through point for four.

But he was to add just one more run before his off stump was clipped by a beauty from Bresnan.

That was a body blow for the Tigers' slim hopes of making England bat again and Mushfiqur did little to ease the pressure when he flailed carelessly at his first ball.

Nightwatchman Shahadat Hossain was another in no mood for blocking and he slapped Broad for boundaries in successive overs.

Umpire Rod Tucker almost handed Bresnan a second wicket when he gave Shahadat caught behind despite the ball hitting shoulder rather than bat and not being taken cleanly by Matt Prior.

The verdict was quickly annulled but he did not last much longer, nicking to second slip for 14 to give debutant Steven Finn his first Test wicket.