Black Caps attack strike back
New Zealand’s pace attack hit back to gain control of the first test after Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal bludgeoned a brilliant century on day one in Hamilton yesterday.
Tamim notched his ton in 100 balls after striking with superb precision and power to reach his ninth test century early in the second session, but the Black Caps fought back to knock over the tourists for 234 after tea.
After dropping Tamim on 66, Colin de Grandhomme made amends somewhat by dismissing him on 126 after his slashing shot was taken at gully by captain Kane Williamson, who won the toss and sent Bangladesh into bat at Seddon Park.
Neil Wagner, the pick of New Zealand’s fast bowlers with 5-47 for his sixth five-wicket haul in tests, crucially struck twice before tea, removing captain Mahmudullah (22) and Mehidy Hasan (10), as Bangladesh succumbed to a barrage of short balls.
Their faltering innings ended early in the final session as Wagner claimed his fifth scalp – Liton Das caught in the deep for 29 – and the Black Caps in reply were 86-0 at stumps, trailing by 148.
Tom Latham survived a huge scare when he was dropped in the slips off debutant seamer Ebadat Hossain’s second ball, but he and Jeet Raval batted out 28 overs to the close of play.
The runs started to flow after a tough start for New Zealand’s openers and Raval, who reached his eighth test 50, will begin day two unbeaten on 51 alongside Latham on 35.
Earlier, Bangladesh’s batting came to an abrupt end after they scored freely at 4.35 runs an over in an explosive opening session.
Tamim, in stark contrast to his lean one-day series, was on song from ball one as the tourists powered to 122-2 at lunch.
Trent Boult was first to strike, bowling Tamim’s opening partner Shadman Islam for 24, after New Zealand’s bowlers started waywardly. After smashing 21 fours and one six, Tamim went for 126 off 128 balls with the score 180-5 and Bangladesh slowly but surely lost their way.