Tigers have work cut out after Latham scales ton
Despite Bangladesh having managed to get off the mark by dismissing opener Will Young, things are looking ominous for the Tigers as New Zealand are already approaching a big first innings total on the first day of the Christchurch Test.
After the end of the second session, the Kiwis are neatly placed on 202 for one after 54 overs while the Tigers are in desperate need of a few quick wickets in succession after Tea to regain control of the match. Opener Tom Lathan will resume his innings in the third session on 118, partnering Devon Conway, not out on 28. The two batters strung together a quick 50-run stand in 79 balls before extending it further.
Earlier, halfway into the post-Lunch session, New Zealand captain Latham, with his son watching from the stands, scored his century in 133 balls when he tucked Mehedi Hasan Miraz around the corner in the 45th over.
And before Latham reached three figures, Shoriful Islam got his reward for being the relatively economical of the three Bangladesh pacers. The left-arm fast bowler dismissed Young as the right-hander found a thick edge to debutant Mohammad Naim at backward point while trying to drive on the up and thus had to depart after a well-made 54 off 114 deliveries.
The Tigers had their tail up as New Zealand lost their first wicket on 148 for 1 after 38 overs. But then came Conway, the only centurion of the first Test, to join Latham in the middle. The new batter looked to be in sublime form as he caressed a decent Miraz delivery for a boundary through the cover. Conway later went on to hit Miraz for a maximum, the innings' first, with superb lofted shot over long on. It was surprising to see skipper Mominul Haque not operating fast bowlers from both ends with Conway finding his feet early on.
Meanwhile, Tom Latham, when on 94, thanked his lucky stars once again as a Shoriful bouncer took him by surprise and hit the bat handle as he tried to leave the ball, which then flew in the air but only to fall in the no man's land in between the approaching bowler and wicket-keeper.
Following an aggressive century, Latham edged Ebadot Hossain in the 46th over but it went through the vacant third slip area. Ebadot conceded 70 runs from his 13 overs by then; however, the amount of conceded runs does not do justice to the impact the lad from Sylhet had in this game so far.
Having scored 200 in under 53 overs with losing only one batter, New Zealand have the clear upper hand after two sessions on day one. But can Bangladesh pull back the hosts like they did in the first Test in Mount Maunganui?