Mominul, Liton help Tigers take control

Bangladesh cricket team batted with firmness and purpose to dominate New Zealand on the third day of the Mount Maunganui Test. The visitors went to stumps on 401 for 6, leading by 73 runs, the first time they have done so batting second outside Asia.

Captain Mominul Haque was the top scorer with 88, having struck 12 fours in his 244-ball knock as stayed at the crease for over six hours. Mominul added 158 runs for the fifth wicket with Liton Das, who made 86 off 177 deliveries. Their fifties came after Mahmudul Hasan Joy, playing just his second Test, made a diligent 78, adding 104 for the second wicket with Najmul Hossain Shanto, who made 64. Also, Monday was the first time each of Bangladesh top six batters faced more than 50 balls in an away Test innings. Bangladesh's 156 overs batted is their most in a Test innings outside Asia, as the home side's bowling attack felt the full toll of the visitors' heightened discipline. Neil Wagner and Trent Boult took three wickets each but Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee and Rachin Ravindra went wicketless in their 88 overs combined. The foundation for Bangladesh's fine day of batting was laid in the first two sessions. After adding only 45 runs till the lunch break, they scored more freely in the second session. They added a further 87 runs in 26 overs, going wicketless. Both Mominul and Litton reached their fifties post lunch. They went chanceless too, but there were uncomfortable moments when Mominul was struck on the elbow and when he edged in front of Ross Taylor at third slip. It was harder for the left-hander during the first session when he was dropped on 8 by Jamieson off his bowling, and then caught behind on 9 off a no-ball by Wagner.

Mominul and Mushfiqur Rahim batted 18.2 overs to add just 19 runs, the slowest partnership when the two Bangladesh batters have combined to face 100-plus balls. Earlier, Joy fell for 78 when Wagner had him caught at gully, while Boult clean bowled Mushfiqur shortly before the lunch break. Liton freed up the situation when he struck two fours shortly after coming to the crease, and then attacked the New Zealand bowlers whenever necessary for most of the next two sessions. He used the pace well, guiding the ball with late cuts and square-cuts as well as driven fours. Mominul too drove the ball well, hitting four cover drives for boundaries, as well as a few flicks and clips through midwicket. He also used the pace well to hit fours behind the stumps. Boult removed both Mominul and Litton in the space of three overs. He finally broke the fifth-wicket stand when he trapped Mominul lbw for 88. A few overs later, Litton followed him to the dressing room after he chased a wide one from Boult. There was still no respite following that for New Zealand as Yasir Ali and Mehidy Hasan Miraz batted out the remaining 11.1 overs without much fuss.