Saleh guides Bangladesh past 400 v Australia

FATULLAH, Bangladesh, Apr 10 (Reuters) Bangladesh enjoyed a solid start to the second day of the first test against Australia today, the hosts reaching the lunch interval on 413 for six with Rajin Saleh recording an unbeaten half-century.

The home side dominated the previous day's play, closing on 355-5 after Shahriar Nafees (138) led the charge with his maiden test century and Bangladesh added 58 runs to that total for the loss of Khaled Mashud (17).

Passing the 400-mark for just the fourth time in tests, Saleh (65) and Mohammad Rafique (5) were the not out batsmen for Bangladesh at lunch.

Stuart McGill took the only wicket of the morning when he lured Mashud forward out of his crease and keeper Adam Gilchrist whipped off the bails after the batsman had played and missed.

The stumping gave McGill his fourth wicket of the innings.

Saleh almost missed out on his fifth test half-century when Jason Gillespie dropped a caught and bowled chance with the batsman on 48, but he has otherwise looked solid and had occupied the crease for 192 deliveries.

Australia's Shane Warne did not take to the field on Monday morning, the leg spinner complained of a sore shoulder the previous day after bowling 20 overs for 112 runs and no wickets.

The second of the two-match series starts in Chittagong on Sunday.

REUTERS PM SP1254