Trescothick leads England assault

Second Test, Chester-le-Street, day one (stumps): England 269-3 v Bangladesh 104

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Marcus Trescothick hit his second century in as many matches as England punished Bangladesh mercilessly on the opening day at the Riverside.

Steve Harmison took 5-38 on his home ground to bowl the tourists out for a sorry 104 after England won the toss.

With Trescothick contributing 151, the hosts had obliterated that by stumps, reaching 269-3, for a lead of 165.

Ian Bell was 57 not out while Graham Thorpe, in his 100th Test, was unbeaten on two from seven deliveries.

Trescothick reached his 12th Test century - and the first ever at this new venue - from 117 balls.

And he went on the offensive from there, as England moved from 200 to 250 in less than five overs.

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The left-hander's innings contained 21 fours and two sixes over long-off from spinner Mohammad Rafique and Anwar Hossain Monir.

He was caught at deep mid-off two overs from stumps via a lofted drive from Aftab Ahmed's medium pace, his job done.

Bell showed great balance and orthodox technique in passing 50 for the third time in his three Test innings so far.

There were two negatives for England, though, in the dismissals of two of their leading batsmen.

Strauss survived a strong lbw appeal before he had got off the mark.

And his footwork appeared below his usual high standard before he was leg-before offering no shot to Mashrafe Mortaza, the pick of the Bangladesh bowlers again.

Vaughan displayed some wonderful strokes among his nine boundaries but suffered a rush of blood when he wafted at a Mortaza delivery that left him.

The England skipper had stated his intention to "put them under pressure" upon winning the toss but can hardly have expected to be batting himself before the tea break, after the tourists were overawed.

Harmison starred with a five-wicket haul on his home ground

Geraint Jones profited with six catches, the equal second-best tally by an England wicket-keeper behind Bob Taylor's seven against India in 1979/80.

Harmison found impressive pace and bounce, making his first in-roads in successive overs early on.

He seamed one away to make Nafees Iqbal edge to third slip and then yorked captain Habibul Bashar, who was playing across the line

Opener Javed Omar Belim stood out for the first two hours but was caught behind for 37 just before lunch, the first of three wickets for Matthew Hoggard.

The other two came in the space of three balls, Mohammad Rafique and Tapash Baisya the men to perish.

Andrew Flintoff, with unnerving bounce, and Simon Jones, with late away-swing, also impressed in short spells, taking a wicket each.

Bangladesh were without young batsman Mushfiqur Rahim, who sprained his ankle walking down stairs on the eve of the match.

Rajin Saleh deputised for him and seamer Tapash Baisya stood in for Shahadat Hossain, who was woefully expensive in last week's innings defeat at Lord's.