DHAKA, Feb 28, 2019 (BSS)- Despite opener Tamim Iqbal’s classy century, New Zealand finished the first day on top sent Bangladesh packing for 234 in the first Test in Hamilton.
The host had moved to 86 for no loss at stumps, well-placed and heading a big first-innings lead with the two Black Caps openers — Jeet Raval (51 batting) and Tom Latham (35 batting) — on the crease, after the Black Caps captain won the toss and put Bangladesh into bat.
The 29-year old Tamim, notched his ton in style from 100 balls with superb accuracy and power to reach his ninth test century early in the second session, but he fell for 126 among five wickets New Zealand took after lunch to halt Bangladesh’s momentum at Seddon Park.
Bangladesh went to lunch with 122 for 2 with Tamim alone had made 86 of those – 60 of them through fours. By then, Tamim had dominated stands of 57 with Shadman Islam (24) and 64 with Mominul Haque (12), who tickled a Wagner short ball to the wicket-keeper eight balls before the interval.
However, the Black Caps fought back with five wickets in the third session. Neil Wagner, the pick of the New Zealand bowlers, struck with his third and fourth wicket just before tea to land crucial blows as Bangladesh lost captain Mahmudullah (22) and Mehedi Hasan (10) after a barrage of short bowling, leaving the Tigers reeling on 217-7 with wicketkeeper Liton Das unbeaten on 14 ahead of the final session.
Boult was first to strike, bowling Tamim’s opening partner Shadman Islam for 24, as New Zealand’s attack dug deep to recover from a wayward start. Bangladesh scored freely at 4.35 runs an over in an explosive first session.
Tamim, in stark contrast to his lean one-day series, was on song from ball one in his 57th test. Tamim was given a life when de Grandhomme dropped him off his own bowling and it was a missed opportunity the Black Caps would rue.
Tamim kicked on for a brisk century, reaching the milestone with a superb pull shot off Wagner’s bowling in the 33rd over. Tim Southee’s first eight overs went for 55 runs as Tamim blasted him to all corners with brute force and style for his first test century since October 2016 – and his first against the host.
When Tamim was approaching his ton, he was fortunate a deflection off his bat while ducking a short Southee delivery evaded any New Zealand fielders, but his luck ran out as he became frustrated while losing batting partners. After smacking 21 fours and one six, Tamim was out for 126 off 128 balls with Bangladesh 180-5.
Earlier, Wagner had Mominul Haque (12) and Mohammed Mithun (8) out cheaply and a faint edge from Southee through to wicketkeeper BJ Watling did for Soumya Sarkra (1).
Wagner removed Mominul in the penultimate over before lunch – caught behind by Watling – as the Black Caps struck back to stunt Bangladesh’s blazing start.
Neil Wagner, the wrecker in-chief, caused the major damage as he grabbed his sixth career five wickets giving away 47 runs. He was well supported by Tim Southee who claimed three wickets for 76 runs.