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Mominul keeps Bangladesh's hope high on rain-affected day

by Manuj Sharma Thursday 12 January 2017

Mominul Haque was impressive in his knock of 64

©REUTERS MEDIA EXPRESS

Bangladesh 154-3 (Mominul 64no) v New Zealand
First Test, Wellington, day one
Scorecard

Mominul Haque led Bangladesh's fightback with an unbeaten 64 to take the visitors to 154 for three on a rain-affected day one which had only 40.2 overs bowled in the first Test against New Zealand in Wellington.

New Zealand won the toss and opted to field first on overcast conditions. Taskin Ahmed and Subashis Roy made their debut for Bangladesh.

Tamim Iqbal (56) scored five boundaries in as many overs despite losing his opening partner Imrul Kayes (1) early to Tim Southee (1-45).

Tamim survived a tight LBW review in the 11th over bowled by Colin de Grandhomme (0-26) as the impact was umpire's call and an over later, rain intervened leading to early lunch during which Bangladesh were 39 for one.

After a 90 minutes of hiatus, the play resumed and Tamim continued his stroke playing and completed a 48-ball fifty. However, he failed to carry on as he was trapped LBW by Trent Boult (1-53) in the 15th over. New Zealand had to use a review to overturn the decision.

Mominul (64 not out) and Mahudullah (26) were put to test by some hostile swing bowling from New Zealand but the former responded with three boundaries in the 21st over bowled by Boult.

With a couple more boundaries in the 27th over, Mominul brought the 100 for Bangladesh and the onslaught from the 29-year-old continued as he brought the 50-run stand with Mahmudullah with a couple more boundaries and a six following which rain arrived once again.

This time close to three hours of play was lost and an early tea was taken.

The final session resumed at 5:45pm local time with 25 overs scheduled to be bowled. The third over of the final session saw Mominul complete yet another fifty but a lapse of concentration at the other end saw Mahmudullah nick one to the keeper to give Neil Wagner (1-28) his first wicket.

Things could have been worse for Bangladesh had Mitchell Santner held on to a catch at midwicket offered by Shakib Al Hasan (5 not out).

With light deteriorating, the umpire's called for an early end to the day which saw only 40.2 overs bowled.