Bell steadies ship for England

(GETTY IMAGES)

Ian Bell hit a chanceless unbeaten 87 to hold England's innings together on the opening day of the second npower Test against Bangladesh.

The Warwickshire batsman was closing in on his second century against Bangladesh this year when bad light forced an early close after an otherwise sunny day at Old Trafford.

England were 275 for five when clouds gathered in the final session and umpires Billy Bowden and Asoka De Silva sent the players off for bad light.

A bout of rain soon after ended any chance of further play.

Matt Prior was at the other end on 21 not out after surviving a strong lbw shout off left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak on 18.

The closure meant honours were probably even after Bangladesh acquitted themselves well with a revamped attack.

Razzak and fellow spinners Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah all found considerable turn while the recalled Shafiul Islam, whose output was later restricted by a leg injury, took two crucial early wickets.

England were also guilty of squandering chances with the biggest culprit Kevin Pietersen.

Pietersen lifted the tempo after lunch by moving to a brisk 64 off 87 balls with seven fours and a six but a rush of blood then saw him stumped off Shakib.

It was the fourth time in seven Test innings he had fallen to the Bangladesh captain.