Agencies

Chester-le-Street, June 3:

England’s Steve Harmison took five wickets for 38 and rolled Bangladesh over for 104 on the opening afternoon of the second and final Test here on Friday. Harmison, seeking to rediscover his best form before the arrival of the Australians, produced a searing spell in the morning on his home ground, taking two for 18, and then returned to help wrap up the innings with another hostile display. Seamer Matthew Hoggard took three wickets, including two in three balls after the resumption. Wicketkeeper Geraint Jones took six catches and the innings lasted only 39.5 overs. At tea, England were 46/1 with Mashrafe Mortaza trapping Andrew Strauss (8) leg before. At the crease were Marcus Trescothick (24) and Michael Vaughan (13). Harmison rediscovered the line and, crucially, the length that took him to the top of the world rankings last year as he terrorised all of Bangladesh’s batsmen.

Harmison made the initial breakthrough, inviting a off-drive from Nafees Iqbal. The edge flew to Andrew Strauss who stretched right at third slip to make it 17 for one. Habibul Bashar’s continued belief in attack as the best form of defence let him down again. Bangladesh’s captain, a compulsive hooker in the first Test, carved Harmison for four via Ian Bell’s fingertips in the gully but departed for six two balls later as the bowler rattled the base of his leg stump with a fine yorker. After lunch, Harmison struck again in his first over back as three wickets fell for 13 runs in 12 balls and he also took the final wicket of the innings. Graham Thorpe, the eighth England player to reach 100 Tests, was presented with a commemorative bat before the start of play.