Graeme Swann and Stuart Broad shared five wickets as England tightened its grip on the opening Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong, despite Tamim Iqbal’s fighting 81 not out.

Off spinner Swann took 3 for 40 and fast bowler Broad 2 for 30 before Bangladesh struggled to reach 5 for 154 in its first innings at stumps on the second day in reply to England’s mammoth 6 for 599 declared.

The England batting might was on view for a second successive day, with Paul Collingwood cracking 145 for his 10th Test hundred and Ian Bell making 84.

Skipper Alastair Cook earlier fell for 173, his best in 53 Tests.

Broad jolted Bangladesh with two quick wickets in an incisive opening spell before Tamim counter-attacked to steady the innings with a 94-run stand for the fourth wicket with Mohammad Mahmudullah (51).

Left-handed Tamim batted aggressively during a 115-ball knock, hitting one six and 13 fours in his fifth Test half-century.

Broad tested the batsmen with short-pitched deliveries, dismissing opener Imrul Kayes (4) and Junaid Siddique (7) in the process.

Swann reduced Bangladesh to 3 for 51 when he had Aftab Ahmed (1) caught by Bell at short-leg in his first over before removing Mahmudullah, caught off the gloves by Collingwood at first slip while trying to sweep.

His third wicket came in the day’s penultimate over when he bowled skipper Shakib Al Hasan for 1.

England earlier added 225 runs to its overnight total of 3 for 374, with all-rounder Collingwood and Bell doing the bulk of scoring. The pair made the most of a mediocre Bangladeshi attack, adding 184 for the fifth wicket.

Collingwood smashed four sixes and 10 fours in an impressive 188-ball knock and Bell hit nine fours in his 105-ball innings. Both were caught in the deep while going for big shots just before the declaration.

The hosts continued to struggle for success as they managed to grab just three wickets in more than a session, with key spinners Abdur Razzak and Shakib both giving away more than 100 runs.

Cook, leading England for the first time in Tests, hit two sixes and 16 fours in his career-best knock. His previous best in Tests was 160 against the West Indies at home last year.

He looked set to complete his maiden Test double-century before falling to off-spinner Mahmudullah in the morning, offering an easy return catch while attempting to pull a long-hop.

- AFP