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Mominul Leads Bangladesh Counter-Attack

by John Pennington Thursday 10 October 2013

BJ Watling scored his second Test century on day two in Chittagong before Bangladesh hit back

©REUTERS / Action Images

New Zealand 469 (Williamson 114, Watling 103) v
Bangladesh 103-2 (Mominul Haque 77no)
First Test, Chittagong, day two

For the second day in a row, New Zealand had the better of the early part of the day before Bangladesh hit back in the evening session during the first Test in Chittagong.

After New Zealand, thanks to BJ Watling's 103 and Trent Boult's 52 not out, were bowled out for 469, Bangladesh lost two early wickets to slip to eight for two.

However, Mominul ended the day unbeaten on 77 in just 71 balls to take Bangladesh to stumps on 103 for two.

The tourists resumed on 280 for five having lost wickets late on the opening day and Bangladesh quickly removed nightwatchman Bruce Martin and debutant Corey Anderson, both for one, to reduce them to 282 for seven.

At that point, New Zealand had lost four wickets for just six runs but Watling, Doug Bracewell (29) and Boult pushed them past 400.

First, Watling and Bracewell added 56 for the eighth wicket to stop Bangladesh's charge and after Bracewell was bowled by Sohag Gazi and Ish Sodhi trapped in front by Shakib Al Hasan for one, Bangladesh must have been thinking that before too long they would be batting.

They were subsequently denied for 43 overs by Watling and Boult, who registered a new career-best in first-class as well as Test cricket to enable Watling to reach a second Test century in 171 balls.

The end of the innings finally came when Watling was stumped off Mominul, who enjoyed quite a day.

Abdur Razzak got through 55 overs in all to take three for 147, Sohag and Shakib took two wickets apiece with Rubel Hossain, Nasir Hossain and Mominul picking up one each.

If Mominul had a good day with bat and ball, then so too did Boult as he struck with the first ball of the Bangladesh innings to have Tamim Iqbal caught by first-innings centurion Kane Williamson.

Opening partner Anamul Haque fell soon after when he was trapped in front by Bracewell but Bangladesh fought back.

Debutant Marshall Ayub stood firm, making 21 not out in 74 balls before Mominul cracked 13 fours in his 77 in 71 deliveries that put Bangladesh back on the front foot and ensured that for the second day in a row, Bangladesh had finished the stronger - although there is plenty of work for them still to do.