Dhaka, Oct 21: Play resumed after two truncated sessions caused by rain on the opening day of the first ever cricket Test between Bangladesh and England at the Bangabandhu National Stadium here today. Umpires Ashoka de Silva and Aleem Dar, in consultation with match referee Wasim Raja, decided to start the game again at 3:45 pm IST after repeated inspections of the ground.

Sharp showers early in the morning session had rendered the ground unfit for play and it took a lot of hard work from the groundsmen to ensure more play on the first day. Bangladesh were one for no loss after electing to bat, with openers Javed Omar (one) and Hannan Sarkar (nought) seeing off the four overs bowled by pacemen Matthew Hoggard and Stephen Harmison early in the morning.

The match is the first of a two-Test series. The second Test will be held at Chittagong from October 29 to November 2. A three-match one-day series will follow the Tests. Bureau Report