Chittagong: England’s left-arm spinner Zafar Ansari grabbed four wickets to stake his claim for a Test berth on the first day of their two-day warm-up match against a Bangladesh Cricket Board XI in Chittagong on Sunday.
The BCB XI were all out for 294 thanks to a century by opener Abdul Mazid, who made 106 off 95 balls and shared two useful partnerships with Nazmul Hossain (72) and Mosaddek Hossain (47).
England were two without loss at stumps in what could be their final innings before the first Test starts in the same city on October 20.
Chris Woakes removed Soumya Sarkar early on but Mazid carried the local side with fluent batting before Ansari put the brakes on their innings with three quick strikes.
After going wicketless in the previous warm-up game that ended on Saturday, Ansari finished with 4-68 as the visitors made a late comeback.
Stuart Broad bowled Mazid to end his blistering innings, which included 16 fours and a six, before finishing with 2-43 while spinner Gareth Batty claimed 2-55.
England rested leg-spinner Adil Rashid and seamer Jake Ball while captain Alastair Cook flew back home to attend the birth of his second child.
The second Test will start in Dhaka on October 28.
