Dhaka, May 11 -- Bangladesh finished a rain-disrupted day firmly on the front foot, as Mominul Haque and Najmul Hossain Shanto once again anchored the innings with assurance and patience, stretching their lead to 179 runs with seven wickets still intact.

What might have been a fragmented contest due to Monday's weather instead tilted steadily in Bangladesh's favour, built on calm resistance and disciplined accumulation at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.

The afternoon session was completely lost to heavy rain, but Bangladesh had already laid a sturdy platform through a 105-run stand between Mominul (56) and Shanto (58*) -- their second century partnership of the Test and only the third such instance for the country ...