Bangladeshi batsmen exposed by England's second-string attack

Bangladesh will go into next week's first Test having been uncomfortably exposed by England's second team. For the second day running their batsmen lacked the technique or resolve to cope with a hostile barrage from four Lions seamers who may have sniffed an opening when news broke of Graham Onions' extended absence – especially as Andy Flower had arrived to join the other three selectors to finalise the team for Lord's in a lengthy meeting on the balcony of Derbyshire's indoor school. Chris Woakes did the early damage in a much improved new-ball spell. Then Liam Plunkett, the only one of the quartet with Test experience – and theoretically the next in line after traipsing all around South Africa and Bangladesh during the winter – wrecked the middle order with three good wickets in six overs. They were all caught behind by Surrey's Steven Davies, who pouched five of the first six wickets to fall after top-scoring in the Lions innings with 81 – taking his chance to remind the selectors that Craig Kieswetter is not the only wicketkeeper-batsman snapping at Matt Prior's heels. As in the first innings Ravi Bopara then ran through the lower order all too easily against an international team, taking three wickets in his second over – he currently has match figures of six for 23. Alastair Cook finally gave Monty Panesar a bowl in the 180th over of the match, but after two uneventful overs he was off again, as the Lions captain recalled Plunkett in an unsuccessful attempt to complete victory inside two days. Plunkett confirmed that inflicting a morale-denting defeat on the Bangladeshis had been the major collective goal for the Lions, while reflecting modest satisfaction about his own performance. After revealing that he had sent a sympathetic text to Onions he conceded reluctantly that his Durham team-mate's injury might create more international opportunities for other seamers this summer. But he dismissed the possibility of a surprise call-up for Lord's, where England are expected to field a full-strength attack having apparently discounted the idea of giving Stuart Broad a breather. Earlier Davies had batted far more convincingly than another left-hander, Andrew Gale, did for his 74. The Yorkshire captain was dropped twice and finally paid for his uncertainty against short-pitched bowling when he top-edged a pull to long-leg. He also dropped two sharp chances in the field, returning to the pavilion after the second for treatment to his right hand.