LONDON, England (AFP) — Tamim Iqbal marked his first Test at Lord’s with a breathtaking century as Bangladesh fought back with the bat against England on the fourth day of their series opener here yesterday.

Bangladesh, following on, were 328 for five at stumps — 105 ahead of England’s first innings 505 after the Tigers had been bowled out for 282 earlier in the day.

That prompted thoughts of England winning by an innings, as they’d done in the corresponding fixture here five years ago.

But Tamim, who made 103 at better than a run-a-ball, shared a Bangladesh record first-wicket stand of 185 with fellow left-hander Imrul Kayes (75).

Fast bowler Steven Finn, playing his first Test in England on his Middlesex home ground, removed both openers in a spell of two wickets for one run in 14 balls shortly before tea.

That meant Bangladesh — who’ve won just three of their 66 previous Tests and lost all six against England — started yesterday’s final session with both Junaid Siddique and Jahurul Islam unbeaten on nought.

But they went on to share a stand of exactly 100, with Siddique posting his second fifty of the match in 92 balls with five boundaries.

Bangladesh lost a wicket in the first over with the new ball when Mohammad Ashraful was caught behind off reinvigorated paceman James Anderson, who like Finn took four first innings wickets, for 21.

And there was still time for nightwatchman Shahadat Hossain to be bowled by Tim Bresnan for nought.

Left-hander Siddique survived though to be 66 not out with Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan unbeaten on two.

Earlier, England brought on occasional medium-pacer Jonathan Trott, whose 226 was the centrepiece of their total, and he broke the third-wicket partnership when he had Jahurul (46) caught and bowled.

But Ashraful’s cover-driven boundary off Finn took the Tigers to 300.

Tamim, who chanced his arm, was 31 not out at lunch and Kayes unbeaten on 30, both men batting positively as they did in a first innings stand of 88 only ended by a run-out.

They exposed England’s questionable policy of opting for only four frontline bowlers, with first-choice quick Stuart Broad rested, on a pitch which, like so many Test surfaces, favours batsmen.

There was though no denying Tamim’s class when he pulled Finn for four to bring up Bangladesh’s first century opening stand against England.

Tamim, who made 55 in the first innings, cut loose against off-spinner Graeme Swann — England’s ‘control’ bowler.

In three successive balls Tamim slog-swept Swann for six, cover-drove him for four and hoisted him for six.

Before this match, Kayes’s best score in his 11 Tests was 33.

But having made 43 in the first innings, he completed a maiden fifty in 96 balls when he swept Swann for four.

Tamim’s superb forcing shot off the backfoot against Bresnan, who lacked for both guile and pace, saw Bangladesh to 163 without loss.

That surpassed their previous best opening stand of 161 between Tamim and Siddique against New Zealand in Dunedin in 2007/08.

Tamim’s third boundary of the over, a drive over mid-on, took the 21-year-old to a third Test ton in just 94 balls with two sixes and 15 fours.

A joyous Tamim pointed to his shirt as he celebrated getting his name on the Lord’s honours board, just as fast bowler Shahadat had done this match by taking five wickets.

Tamim was out soon afterwards when he hooked Finn to Trott at long leg.

Kayes followed soon afterwards, caught at short leg by Ian Bell.