The home team were however still 13 runs behind the visitors first innings total when they finished the day on 137-1 after wrapping up the England A first innings for 359. The second string England side added 91 more runs batting throughout the first session on the third day to their overnight score of 268-6 to take a commendable 150-run first innings lead.

But local openers Jahurul (87) and out-of-favour Mehrab (41 not out) showed patience in the middle to avoid any early debacle like their first essay where they lost five wickets in the first session to ultimately lose the grip on the game.

After lunch, Bangladesh started their second innings and the two openers were as cautious as they could be to go to tea without any damage although the scoreboard read only 58 runs in 29 overs.

Right-hander Jahurul was struggling for the most part of his 207-ball knock but made no mistake to punish the bad balls as he racked up 12 well-struck boundaries. On the other hand left-handed Mehrab had no intention of taking any risks and he made sure of being there at the end of the day on an unbeaten 41 off 168 balls with the help of four boundaries.

The tourists finally got the much-desired breakthrough when off-spinner Alex Loudon bamboozled Jahurul, who was dropped once at 71 when Nick Compton slipped an easy catch at extra-cover off left-arm spinner Michael Yardy, turning the ball other way to land him at the hand of wicketkeeper Matthew Prior.

"It was a beautiful delivery because it came much quicker than his other wrong ones. I am frustrated with my dismissal just five overs before the stumps of the day's play but the more disappointing fact is that if we could have batted well in the first innings then it could have create a chance for our two quality spinners to do something special," said the young opener.

Night watchman Mosharraf Hossain successfully negotiated 18 balls to score one run at stumps on the third day.

Earlier, right-arm paceman Dollar Mahmud took two more wickets yesterday to finish as the most successful Bangladesh A bowler with 3-82. He had Alex Loudon (71 off 126 balls) plumb lbw with a full-length delivery to complete the job.

Mohammad Sharif and part-time bowler Marshal Ayub captured the remaining scalps.

SCORES IN BRIEF
BANGLADESH A: First innings 209 and second innings 137-1 in 63 overs (Jahurul 87, Mehrab 41 not out, Mosharraf 1 not out, extras 8; Loudon 1-39).

ENGLAND A: First innings 359 all out in 117.2 overs (overnight 268-6 in 91 overs) (Jefferson 38, Compton 23, Yardy 34, Carberry 70, Davies 37, Prior 3, Loudon 71, Bresnan 32, Broad 9, Smith 12, Onions 10 not out, extras 20; Dollar 3-82, Sharif 1-68, Enamul 2-90, Mosharraf 2-73, Marshal 1-10).