Sports Reporter :
New Zealand took the commanding position in the first Test as the Kiwis declared their first innings making a mountainous 715 for the loss of six wickets against Bangladesh on the third day at Hamilton in New Zealand on Saturday.
Earlier, Bangladesh were all out for 234 in the first innings on the first day (Thursday).
Later, the hosts were at the stumps at 174 for the loss of four wickets.
Bangladesh trailed by 307 runs with remaining six wickets.
New Zealand resumed their first innings with the overnight score of 451 for the loss of four wickets.
Kane Williamson and Neil Wagner resumed their first innings with the overnight score of 93 and one run respectively.
Williamson and Wagner added together more 58 runs for the fifth wicket partnership before Wagner was caught behind by wicketkeeper Liton Das off Ebadat Hossain when New Zealand’s total was 509 for the loss of five wickets.
Williamson remained unbeaten with 200 runs. His 257-ball innings was belted with 19 fours. It was Kane’s maiden double hundred in Test cricket in his career.
Wagner made 47 from 35 balls featuring six fours and three sixes.
After Wagner’s dismissal, Williamson and BJ Watling put on together 96 runs in the sixth wicket stand before Watling was caught behind by Liton Das off Mehidy Hasan Miraz when the hosts’ score was 605 for the loss of six wickets.
Then Williamson and Colin de Grandhomme contributed together 110 runs for the unbroken seventh wicket partnership before New Zealand declared their first innings.
Grandhomme remained unbeaten with 76. His 53-ball innings saw five sixes and four fours. It was Grandhomme’s fifth Test half-century.
Miraz and Ebadat Hossain of Bangladesh got success with the cherry on the third day.
Watling scored 31 from 67 balls with two fours.
Miraz bagged a pair of wickets instead of 246 runs, while Eabadat Hossain took one wicket conceding 107 runs.
Later, Bangladesh made a good start as openers Tamim Iqbal and Shadman Islam put on together 88 runs in the opening stand before Shadman Islam was caught at the long leg by Trent Boult off Wagner.
One-down Mominul Haque (8) was caught at the slip by Ross Taylor off Boult when Bangladesh’s score was 100 for the loss of two wickets.
Mohammad Mithun failed again as he (0) was caught at the gully by Williamson off Boult when the team’s total was 110 for the loss of three wickets.
Opener Tamim Iqbal was caught by wicketkeeper BJ Watling off Tim Southee when Bangladesh’s score was 126 for the loss of four wickets.
Tamim notched up a superb 74. His 86-ball innings was ornamented with 12 fours and a sixer. It was Tamim’s 26th Test half century.
Shadman Islam knocked a patient 37. His 71-ball innings had five fours.
After Tamim’s departure, Soumya Sarkar and Mahmudullah Riyad contributed together 48 runs for the unbroken fifth wicket partnership before the bails were drawn for the third day.
Soumya remained unbeaten with 39 runs. His 51-ball innings was laced with six fours and a sixer.
Mahmudullah remained unbeaten with 15 runs.
Boult bagged a couple of wickets at the cost of 53 runs, while Wagner and Southee took one wicket each for 48 and 54 runs respectively.
