MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) – England batsman Ian Bell swelled his average against Bangladesh to 197 with an unbeaten 87 on the opening day of the second test at Old Trafford yesterday.

Bell, playing his sixth Test against Bangladesh, helped take England to a competitive 275 for five when bad light stopped play after Kevin Pietersen (64) had succumbed to a left-arm spinner for the 17th time since March, 2008.

Bangladesh, who need to win to draw the two-match series after losing at Lord's, started brightly when recalled pace bowler Shafiul Islam removed Andrew Strauss (21) and Jonathan Trott (3).

England slumped to 48 for two after the openers appeared in little danger at 43 without loss after Strauss had won the toss.

Those wickets, the first deliveries of Shafiul's sixth and seventh overs, quickly turned the morning in the tourists' favour.

Strauss pushed forward to a ball just short of a length on off-stump and edged to second slip Imrul Kayes. Trott, following his 226 at Lord's, was then bowled for three after an inside edge on to his pad.

Another recalled player, left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak, had Alastair Cook caught at slip for 29 with his first ball.

The day then developed into the "Pietersen Show", ending in a familiar fashion.

Bangladesh coach Jamie Siddons had promised on Thursday that his spinners would test Pietersen's "vulnerable" technique and they did not let him down, bowling 52 of the 83 overs on a turning, slow pitch.

Pietersen had appeared intent on disproving Siddons and before lunch he advanced down the pitch and drove Shakib through mid-on for four while still in single figures.

He reached his half-century with a single, after two boundaries from an off-drive and a pull in the same 36th over, and shortly afterward he slogged Razzak over long-on for a six.

But, once again, Pietersen was dismissed by left-arm spin while looking in control.

Shakib looped the ball into the batsman, who was advancing down the pitch, and managed to get the ball to turn away and beat the bat for wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim to complete a routine stumping. Shakib pumped his fist in celebration.

From 153 for four, Bell took on the task of salvaging the England innings. He put on 70 with Eoin Morgan and an unbroken stand of 52 with Matt Prior (21 not out). Bell had also added 70 with Pietersen.

Bell waited patiently for the loose ball and was quick to punish anything wayward. He struck Razzak for a straight six while the field was in and finished with nine boundaries.

Prior struggled for fluency and was fortunate to survive. He edged Razzak between first slip and the wicketkeeper at catchable height when on 12 and escaped an lbw appeal on 18 courtesy of umpire Billy Bowden when playing back. Replays suggested the ball would have struck leg-stump.