The home side spent the first hour scoring just 15 runs in 13 overs before scoring eased up
Lunch New Zealand 66 for 1 (Conway 36*, Young 27*, Shoriful 1-20) vs Bangladesh
New Zealand went to lunch comfortably placed on 66 for 1, after Devon Conway and Will Young saw off a stern opening spell from Bangladesh’s fast bowlers. The home side spent the first hour scoring just 15 runs in 13 overs, but as the ball got slightly older, the scoring eased up.
The pair got together in the fourth over when left-arm quick Shoriful Islam had stand-in captain Tom Latham caught behind for 1. The ball took Latham’s inside edge on to his pads, to loop away from wicketkeeper Litton Das, who had to dive to his left to complete the wicket.
Taskin and Shorfiul conceded just eight runs in their first spells. New Zealand took their time to open up the scoring, waiting for captain Mominul Haque to introduce Ebadot Hossain to get the boundaries flowing finally. Just past the hour mark, Conway struck Ebadot for two fours before Young hit a beautiful straight drive off Taskin in the following over. Conway hit Shoriful for another pair of fours in the 21st over, before Young pulled Taskin through square leg.
The Bangladesh bowlers were generally tight in their spells, at times beating the bat. Taskin showed why he has risen to the leader of the attack in Tests, while Shoriful’s outgoing delivery to the left-hander meant he kept both Young and Conway guessing, after it brought about Latham’s dismissal. The Bangladesh attack’s only fault perhaps was allowing the New Zealand batters too many sighters, with plenty of deliveries well outside the off stump.
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo’s Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84