NZ trail by 303 runs at stumps on the third day

Tom Latham’s sixth test century was pushing New Zealand towards a solid position against Bangladesh at stumps on the third day of their first test at the Basin Reserve on Saturday.

Responding to Bangladesh’s first innings 595 for eight declared - the sixth highest total put up against New Zealand - New Zealand were 292 for three at stumps, with Latham on 119 and Henry Nicholls on 35. Play ended three overs short on another elongated day to make up lost time from the first day.

Only John Wright (12) and Glenn Turner (seven) have scored more test tons among New Zealand openers than Latham.

Bangladesh had chipped their way through New Zealand’s top order but needed another couple of wickets to keep them pressing towards a possible first victory over their hosts.

They removed opener Jeet Raval for 27, captain Kane Williamson for 53 - a maiden wicket for debutant Taskin Ahmed - and senior batsman Ross Taylor, who pulled a short ball straight to mid wicket on 40.

However Latham played impressively, working a string of shots through the offside and reaching his century off 167 balls with 12 fours. By stumps he’d batted 324 minutes.

He is just the second New Zealand opener to have scored a test century at the Basin, along with John Wright, who did it three times, since the first test on the ground back in 1929-30.

Openers Stewie Dempster (136) and Jack Mills (117) made hundreds against England on that occasion. There have been 11 hundreds by visiting openers since then.

Nicholls survived a DRS referral from offspinner Mehedi Hasan on 21, and a peculiar moment a run later when a leading edge lobbed towards cover, only to blow back towards the pitch and evade three pairs of hands.

Late in the day an edge by Nicholls gave Mehedi a really tough chance at first slip off Subashis Roy, the other seam bowling debutant, who had a rough day, getting two warnings from the umpires for running on the pitch.

And on the day’s final ball, Sabbir Rahman could not cling onto a low chance at a silly point off Nicholls from the bowling of Mehedi.

Bangladesh will start tomorrow with a lead of 303 but the pitch isn’t offering much help for the bowlers and a draw is shaping as the most likely result.

Kamrul Islam has taken two for 53 and Taskin one for 79.

Source: NZherald