Hildreth double puts England in control

Bangladesh U-19 273 and 13 for 1 trail England U-19 396 (Hildreth 210) by 110 runs
Scorecard

James Hildreth blasted a stunning double-century, and the wicketkeeper, Steven Davies, chipped in with a vital 71, as England's Under-19 cricketers hauled themselves out of a considerable hole in the second Test against Bangladesh at Taunton.

By the close of the second day's play, England had secured themselves a first-innings lead of 123, a position that quickly improved when Nafis Iqbal fell for 6 late in the day. But an English lead of any description had looked highly improbable midway through the afternoon, when they had slipped away to 142 for 5 in reply to Bangladesh's handy 273.

Spearheaded by their impressive paceman, Shadahat Hossain, who blasted out both openers, and well backed up by their left-arm spinner, Nadif Chowdhury, who whittled away at the middle order, Bangladesh had high hopes of securing a first-innings lead. But they had reckoned without Hildreth and Davies, who stood firm in a vital 177-run stand for the sixth wicket.

Hildreth, who scored his maiden first-class century for Somerset earlier this season, was always the dominant partner. But it was only well Davies was dismissed, caught by Dhiman Ghosh off Nazmul Hossain, that he truly clicked into top gear. Expertly shepherding the tail, he moved effortlessly past 150, and then, in the space of seven extraordinary deliveries, he exploded from 177 to 209 with four fours and two sixes.

Two balls later, and Shadahat ended the fun with his third wicket of the innings. But not before Hildreth had put England firmly in control of the match.