CHITTAGONG: Young left-hander Mominul Haque scored an impressive 181 as Bangladesh made light of New Zealand’s bowling attack on the third day of the first Test in Chittagong yesterday.
The 22-year-old anchored the innings to notch up his maiden Test century as the hosts, replying to New Zealand’s 469, cruised to 380-7 by stumps at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium.
Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim (67) added 92 for the fifth wicket with Mominul to lift Bangladesh to 301-4, before both batsmen fell in the space of six deliveries after tea.
Debutant left-arm seamer Corey Anderson, who had conceded just 10 runs in his first 10 overs, was rewarded for his accuracy when he trapped Mominul leg-before.
Rahim fell in Doug Bracewell’s next over, caught by a diving Ross Taylor in the slips, as the hosts slipped to 301-6.
Nasir Hossain (46) and Sohag Gazi (28 not out) frustrated the Black Caps further with a 70-run stand for the seventh wicket on a slow pitch that offered no assistance to the bowlers.
The hosts, who have lost eight and drawn one of their nine Tests against New Zealand, trail by 89 runs with three wickets in hand.
Anderson was the lone New Zealand bowler to emerge with credit in unhelpful conditions, returning with figures of 2-23 from 14 overs.
Fellow newcomer Ish Sodhi went for 1-89 in 22 overs of leg-spin, while left-arm slow bowler Bruce Martin conceded 83 runs in 21 unsuccessful overs.
Mominul, nicknamed Sourav by team-mates for a batting style that reminds them of former India captain Sourav Ganguly, hit 27 boundaries.
He fell just 19 runs short of becoming only the second Bangladesh batsmen after Rahim to score a Test double-century. Skipper Rahim hit 200 against Sri Lanka in Galle in March this year.
“I am disappointed that I could not get to 200, because I don’t know when I will get another chance,” Mominul said.
“There was no pressure on me yesterday and I was able to play my strokes freely. But today it was different because I had to make a hundred. New Zealand also bowled really well.” REUTERS
