Bangladesh strong after Williamson, Watling tons

Bangladesh enjoyed a strong response to New Zealand's formidable first-innings total of 469 all out on day two of the first Test Test at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong on Thursday.

Bangladesh enjoyed a strong response to New Zealand's formidable first-innings total of 469 all out on day two of the first Test Test at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong on Thursday.

The hosts' promising tally of 103 for two reduced the deficit to 366 and, with the sub-continental conditions proving characteristically flat, plenty more runs will be on offer come Friday and beyond.

The Black Caps' vindication of captain Brendon McCullum's decision to bat first after winning the toss was built on the back of batsman Kane Williamson and wicketkeeper-batsman BJ Watling's centuries.

Williamson's 114 and Watling's 103 capitalised against a home attack void of a third specialist seamer. Spin trio Abdur Razzak, Sohag Gazi and Shakib Al Hasan, meamwhile, delivered 112 of the 157.1 overs.

The visitors' total would have read considerably lower, however, were it not for a record 10-wicket partnership of 127 between Watling and tail-ender Trent Boult, who finished with a career-best 52 not out.

The Tigers' reply endured a poor start, with the experienced Tamim Iqbal out to the first ball of the innings. Seamer Boult's initial breakthrough was soon followed by all-rounder Doug Bracewell's early removal of the 20-year-old Anamul Haque for three.

Debutant Marshall Ayub and the enterprising Mominul Haque were soon at hand to steady the proverbial ship, orchestrating an unbroken 95-run alliance inside 23 overs. The pair were particularly fruitful against an opposition attack lined with two new caps in Corey Anderson and Ish Sodhi.

Ayub's 21 not out typified patience and Haque's unbeaten 77, which featured 13 boundaries and spanned a mere 71 deliveries, was entertainingly attacking. Both, though, need to convert to innings of significance proportion – at least one to three figures.

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