Mehedi's five puts Bangladesh on brink of lead

DHAKA- Oct 29 Off-spinner Mehedi Hasan picked up his second five-wicket haul of the series to put Bangladesh on the brink of a first innings lead over England in the second and final test at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Saturday. England, who lead the series 1-0 and resumed on 50-3, were reduced to 163 for eight at lunch on day two, still 57 runs behind the hosts. Chris Woakes (12) and Adil Rashid (seven) were at the crease for the tourists. After the opening day witnessed 13 wickets fall, the 19-year-old Mehedi, who picked up six wickets in Chittagong on debut, sent back Moeen Ali (10) early before Ben Stokes fell for a duck to left-arm spinner Taijul Islam off a bat-pad catch. England were reduced to 69 for five at that stage and needed Joe Root (56) and Jonny Bairstow (24) to dig them out of a hole with a 45-run stand for the sixth wicket. Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim turned to his young off-spinner Mehedi to break the partnership and the youngster responded superbly, dismissing Bairstow leg before with the first delivery of his new spell. Root, who was dropped on 19 at slip off Taijul, showed great determination and nimble footwork to bring up his 23rd half-century in tests and built another stand with debutant Zafar Ansari (13) before the latter became Mehedi's fifth victim. Taijul then picked up the big wicket of Root with a leg before after the batsman misjudged the length and was hit on the backfoot off a straight delivery. -Reuters