UNB, Dhaka :
Devon Conway smashed a ton on the first day of the first Test of two-match series between New Zealand and Bangladesh started on Saturday at Mount Maunganui.
New Zealand ended day one of the first Test at 258 for five in 87.3 overs. Conway was the best batter for them with 122— his second ton in Tests. Shoriful Islam was the best bowler taking two wickets for the Tigers.
Conway’s ton overshadowed the hard works of the Bangladesh pacer-bowling duo Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful. Taskin failed to grab any wicket on day one but he bowled really well while Shorfiul scalped two wickets.
Bangladesh captain Mominul Haque won the toss and opted to bowl first. The decision seemed to be the right one as Shoriful sent the New Zealand captain sent back to the dressing room in just one run on the board.
It was angling delivery from Shorfiul. Latham went to flick it but only managed a thick edge to the wicketkeeper. It was not a regulation catch for Liton Das. He dived to take a one-handed catch to remove Latham early.
But it was not a setback for the hosts. In the second wicket, Conway and Will Young put on a partnership of 138 runs. Despite some decent works by Bangladesh pacers, they were firm enough to hold it tight and kept the scoreboard afloat. Bangladesh’s four-bowler attack failed to offer a real challenge for them until Young ran himself out for 52.
In the third wicket stand, Conway and veteran Ross Taylor were looming big. But it was Shoriful again to earn a breakthrough for the tourists. A full delivery across him, Taylor went to drive to the cover region but prodded a low catch. Shadman Islam was smart enough to take it.
To remove Conway, Mominul used Najmul Hossain Shanto as a part-time bowler. The Bangladesh captain brought in himself too, and it was a good move as he removed Conway with only 10 overs to go to end the day.
Mominul bowled a harmless delivery. It was turning down. Conway went for a glance but managed an edge to the wicketkeeper, and Liton did not miss that. Conway’s yet another Test special came to the end on 122.
Ebadot Hossain scalped the last wicket that New Zealand lost on day one in form of Tom Blundell. With two overs three balls to go before the stumps of day one, Ebadot bowled Blundell for 11 off 25 balls. Bangladesh ended the day with this late joy.
Bangladesh bowled four specialist bowlers in this match along with three pacers who have bowled 55.3 overs on day one while specialist spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz bowled 27 overs. Shanto and Mominul bowled five overs together.
Bangladesh will have to restrict the hosts inside a minimum total tomorrow and make a good start to get a commanding position in this Test.
This series is part of the ICC World Test Championship. Bangladesh started this event with the home series against Pakistan and the hosts lost 2-0. In the previous cycle of the World Test Championship, Bangladesh played seven matches but failed to win any of them.
