Mahmudullah Century Keeps Bangladesh In Touch

Mahmudullah Century Keeps Bangladesh In Touch

Mahmudullah (left), here in action against India earlier in the year, scored his maiden Test century as Bangladesh batted strongly in Hamilton.

©REUTERS/Andrew Biraj (BANGLADESH - Tags: SPORT CRICKET) Picture Supplied by Action Images

New Zealand 553-6 dec. (Guptill 189, McCullum 185) & 9-1 v
Bangladesh 408 (Mahmudullah 117, Shakib Al Hasan 87)
Only Test, Hamilton, day three

Mahmudullah compiled a maiden Test century as Bangladesh kept themselves in contention on day three of the only Test against New Zealand, replying to the Black Caps' score of 553 for six declared with a respectable 408.

New Zealand were nine for one in their second innings when stumps were drawn, 154 runs ahead.

The day began with Bangladesh on 87 for one and New Zealand were quickly among the wickets, sending back Tamim Iqbal (68), Junaid Siddique (21), Aftab Ahmed (33) and Mohammad Ashraful (12) and when Mushfiqur Rahim fell for seven, the tourists were 196 for six and in distinct danger of having to follow on, Daryl Tuffey doing most of the early damage with a brace of wickets.

Then came the fightback, led first by Shakib Al Hasan, who made 87 in 104 balls with 15 fours, and continued by the impressive Mahmudullah, who reached 115 in 177 balls before being trapped in front by Daniel Vettori, by which time the follow-on had been saved.

The pair put on a national record 145 for the seventh wicket and Mahmudullah stroked 17 fours and hit two sixes, passing his previous best of 96 not out, a score he achieved when he ran out of partners against India earlier in the year.

After the dismissal of Shakib, one of three wickets for Chris Martin, Mahmudullah was given support from Shahadat Hossain (13) and Shafiul Islam (12) before Martin and Vettori, who also returned three wickets, finished off the innings.

New Zealand then lost the wicket of BJ Watling, who was run out for one by Shakib, when they began their reply, Tim McIntosh unbeaten on five and Peter Ingram unbeaten on two at stumps.

© Cricket World 2010

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