Mominul, Tamim take Tigers to 154 for 3

With only 40.2 overs possible on day one, Bangladesh reached 154 for 3 on the back of fifties from Tamim Iqbal and Mominul Haque during the first Test against New Zealand at the Basin Reserve in Wellington today.

Mominul was unbeaten on 64 from 110 balls, and his enterprising knock contained 10 fours and a six. Shakib Al Hasan was giving the diminutive batter company with five runs to his name when play was called off for the day. Shakib was fortunate to survive a chance in the 40th over when Mitchell Santner dropped him at square leg of Neil Wagner.

The third wicket stand of 85 in 23.3 overs between Mominul and Mahmudullah Riyad came to an end when the hosts were desperate for a breakthrough. Mahmudullah slashed at a wide delivery long way away from his body and was caught behind for a patient 26.

Earlier in the morning session, the umpires had called for an early lunch after the first rain break after 11 overs of play. And when play resumed Tamim Iqbal completed a superb 50. He was out leg-before to a Trent Boult delivery after scoring 56 off 50 balls that contained 10 boundaries.

New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson won the toss and asked Bangladesh in the first Test at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. 

In windy conditions and on a green pitch, bowling first is going to be an advantage, especially with New Zealand's experienced opening pace duo of Tim Southee and Trent Boult.

Bangladesh, in their first Test abroad since April 2013, have chosen to give debuts to pacers Taskin Ahmed and Subhashis Roy.

Bangladesh have lost eight and drawn three of the 11 Tests between the two countries before this one. The Tigers have lost all five previous Tests played against New Zealand in New Zealand. 

Teams                                                                                                                      

Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Mominul Haque, Mahmudullah Riyad, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim*†, Sabbir Rahman, Mehedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Subhashis Roy.

New Zealand: JA Raval, TWM Latham, KS Williamson*, LRPL Taylor, HM Nicholls, C de Grandhomme, BJ Watling†, MJ Santner, TG Southee, N Wagner, TA Boult