Four of the visiting team passed 40, but none bettered Paul Stirling’s top score of 60, and despite an admirable show of patience on a slow wicket, the Boys in Green won’t be happy to have closed on 270-8.

Skipper Andy Balbirnie has talked about the need to bat the opposition out of contention in Tests and there was a chance to do that after he had won the toss, but the Bangladesh bowlers stuck to their task well on a docile surface, making the batters play nearly every ball.

Initial thoughts of a total in excess of 400 had been shelved by tea, but if the last couple of wickets can stagger near or past 300, that might be just about competitive, as the home side will have to bat last.

Carmichael found himself facing the fifth ball of the match, after Balbirnie had fallen lbw, and battled

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