C T Online Desk: Bangladesh responded confidently to New Zealand’s first innings 328 as the Tigers reached 175 after 67 overs losing the two wickets of opener Shadman Islam and Najmul Hossain Shanto after the second day’s play in the first Test.
Mahmudul Hasan Joy was not out 70 with skipper Mominul Haque on 8 while Neil Wagner got both the wickets for New Zealand.
Shanto contributed with a well-played 64 before Wagner pick up his second wicket to break a 104-run second wicket partnership.
Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Kyle Williamson had all toiled without success as Shadman and Mahmudul Hasan Joy launched the Bangladesh reply at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui.
STUMPS Bangladesh 175-2 (Joy 70*, Shanto 64, Wagner 2-27) trail New Zealand 328 (Conway 122, Nicholls 75*, Shoriful 3-69) by 153 runs.
But with his first ball after the mid-afternoon drinks break, Wagner fired a low full toss at Shadman and took a diving catch on his follow-through to have the opener caught and bowled for 22 and leave the visitors on 43-1.
The day so far belonged to Bangladesh, who ripped through the last five New Zealand wickets for the addition of only 70 runs and then reduced the deficit to 258 with nine wickets in hand by tea.
Wagner was unlucky not to have a second wicket when an lbw appeal against Joy, on 20, was turned down. New Zealand decided not to review and replays showed the ball would have hit the stumps.
It was an ideal start to the second day for Bangladesh, who have never tasted success in New Zealand, as they raced through New Zealand’s final five wickets and negotiated three overs before lunch unscathed.
Only Henry Nicholls, the last man to fall, offered any real resistance, scoring 75 as Mehidy Hasan’s spin foiled the batsmen.
For New Zealand, who had seemed on course for a much bigger total when Devon Conway and Will Young were together at 139 for one on the first day, it was a disappointing end.
Once Young fell for 52, the last five batsmen only contributed 25 runs as Mehidy ran through the tail.
