Shanto’s unbeaten ton puts Bangladesh in control
The skipper forges partnerships with Mushfiqur and Mominul to help his side end the day 205 ahead keeping the bowlers at bay
Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto hit his third Test century in four innings to put Bangladesh on course for a strong total in the second innings of the first Test against New Zealand in Sylhet on Thursday.
The host reached 212 for three at stumps on the third day, leading New Zealand by 205 runs, with Najmul unbeaten on 104.
Mushfiqur Rahim made an unbeaten 43 and put on 96 runs in the unbroken fourthwicket stand with Najmul.
Najmul also shared 90 runs with Mominul Haque for the third wicket.
The lefthander has now become the first Bangladeshi cricketer to score a hundred on his debut as Test captain.
He took his hundred, his fourth in Tests, with a single off Ajaz Patel in 191 balls before signing off the day in style with a boundary.
Shanto was at his fluent best which resulted in an unbeaten hundred.
He was involved in two runouts on the day, with the last being Mominul, who made 40.
Najmul and Mominul helped Bangladesh recover from 26 for two after New Zealand made 317 in its first innings to take a slender sevenrun lead.
Patel, the only New Zealand bowler with some success on the day, trapped opener Zakir Hasan legbe
fore for 17.
Tim Southee directed a straight drive by Najmul onto the stumps at the nonstriking end to run out Mahmudul Hasan for eight next over.
Mominul, who joined Najmul in the rescue act, was also the hero for Bangladesh with the ball, having taken the last two New Zealand wickets in the morning.
Southee and Kyle Jamieson frustrated Bangladesh for more than an hour to share 52 runs for the ninth wicket, until leftarm spinner Mominul removed them both in the same over.
The scores:
Bangladesh 310 & 212/3 in 68 overs (Najmul Hossain batting 104, Mushfiqur Rahim batting 43, Mominul Haque 40) vs New Zealand 317 in 101.5 overs.