England Denied In Dhaka

Ashley Giles and Gareth Batty both claimed three wickets apiece as the President's XI finished on 143 for nine after beginning their second innings 265 runs adrift.

Matthew Hoggard claimed six for 13 in the first innings as the home team were dismissed for 57.

And with Graham Thorpe finding his touch with an unbeaten 47, it represented progress for the tourists with a week to go before the opening Test.

Thorpe, dismissed for a duck during England's first-innings total of 253, produced the innings of the match as England declared 265 ahead shortly before lunch.

England laboured hard in the hot sun with openers Hannan Sarker and Nafees Iqbal sharing a 26-run stand before Kent's Martin Saggers claimed the first breakthrough.

Iqbal had already demonstrated the power of his on-side play by clipping Saggers for one of two boundaries through mid-wicket before edging behind to wicketkeeper Chris Read for 20.

Aftab Ahmed frustrated England for a further 23 overs until he was adjudged leg before to Clarke.

But it was the spinners Giles and Batty who accelerated England's march towards victory by claiming three wickets in eight overs.

England were frustrated by a ninth wicket partnership spanning eight overs, during which Nadif Chowdrey was dropped twice, before Steve Harmison broke the partnership with a superb yorker.

Leaving only two deliveries to claim the win, last man Enamul Haque Junior survived to deny the tourists victory.

England have one more match before the start of the Test series.

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