Bangladesh scored 154 for 3 spurred by two half centuries of Mominul Haque and opener Tamim Iqbal in the rain-hit day one of the first Test of the two-match series against New Zealand at Basin Reserve, Wellington on Thursday.
Bangladesh got the chance to play only 40.2 overs instead of the stipulated 90 overs as rain halted the day’s play several times.
Mominul and Shakib were batting on scoring 64 runs five runs respectively at stumps.
Mominul started his innings cautiously and picked up his half century in classic fashion, gliding a good length and outside off delivery of Wagner to boundary between point and gully at 31.1 overs. He smashed 10 boundaries and only over boundary on the way to his 64-run innings.
Earlier, opener Tamim Iqbal played a stormy innings of 56 runs off just 50 balls, trashing 11 boundaries before being the victim of LBW of Trent Boult’s bowling.
Sent in to bat first, Bangladesh lost their first wicket in the fourth over of the innings when left-hand opener Imrul Kayes hooked a Tim Southee’s rising delivery but was caught by Trent Boult at fine leg, scoring one run only and leaving the team 16/1.
After Tamim’s departure at 60/2, Mominul and Mahmudullah built an 85-run partnership in the 3rd-wicket stand in 23.3 overs.
However, Neil Wagner departed the 3rd pair dismissing Mahmudullah (26 off 64b; 4×4) who was cauht by wicketkeeper BJ Watling at 37.5 overs when the team was 145/3.
All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan (5, not out) came to pair Mominul in the 4th wicket and remained at stumps when the bails were drawn for the 1st day.
Rain with the fierce gusts of wind forced to halt the match, for around two hours, when Bangladesh’s collection was at 119/2 in 29 overs and Mominul, Mahmudullah were on batting scoring 48 and 13 runs respectively.
Wagner, Southee and Boult took one wicket each conceding 28, 45 and 53 runs respectively.
Test debuts: Subashis Roy and Taskin Ahmed (Bangladesh).
Brief score:
Bangladesh 1st innings: 154/3 in 40.2 overs (at stumps); Mominul batting 64, Tamim 56, Mahmudullah 26, Shakib batting 5, Wagner 1/28, Southee 1/45, Boult 1/53.
