Harmison shines in gloom

Steve Harmison showed he can be England's enforcer during the inaugural Test series against Bangladesh by dominating a rain-ravaged opening day.

Only 15 overs were bowled at the Bangabandhu Stadium, and they were spread across a couple of sessions, but Harmison struck twice to give Michael Vaughan's men the upper hand.

Bangladesh jumped at an offer to leave for bad light this evening after stumbling to 24 for two. By then, though, Harmison had already put his mark on this first Test between the two countries.

Extracting surprisingly good bounce from a dead-looking pitch, the Durham fast bowler trained his sights on openers Hannan Sarkar and Javed Omar this morning before torrential rain arrived with only four overs bowled.

Play did not resume for more than six hours, and then only after the floodlights were turned on, but Harmison soon hit the target.

Omar ducked under one bouncer but had no answer to the next delivery which lifted towards his chest. Trying to fend it away, the opener lobbed a simple catch into gulley where debut-maker Rikki Clarke gleefully completed the formalities, removing him for three.

"The first one was a bit short but the next was right on the money," said a delighted Harmison.

There is no doubt the tall paceman possesses all the natural assets to become the leader of England's attack and his performance at The Oval last month, when he took four crucial secondinnings wickets against South Africa, has given him a new sense of confidence.