Shakib-Mushfiqur record stand lifts Bangladesh as New Zealand fade in first Test

Shakib Al Hasan has stroked the highest individual score for Bangladesh and combined with Mushfiqur Rahim in a record partnership on the second day of the first Test against New Zealand at the Basin Reserve on Friday.

>>Reuters
Published : 13 Jan 2017, 04:09 AM
Updated : 13 Jan 2017, 08:11 AM

Shakib (217) and captain Mushfiqur (159) stubbornly denied New Zealand in perfect conditions at the Basin Reserve as they produced a 359-run fifth-wicket partnership and batted their side into a position where they are unlikely to lose the game.

The previous highest partnership for any wicket for Bangladesh was the 312 by openers Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes against Pakistan at Khulna in April, 2015.

Shakib brought up his double century, the third by a Bangladeshi batsman, when he punched a Colin de Grandhomme delivery behind square for his 30th boundary.

The 29-year-old ace allrounder then surpassed Tamim's record score of 206 with a push for a single to mid-off.

A weary Shakib eventually chopped a Neil Wagner delivery on about 15 minutes before the close of play.

The visitors then ended the day on 542 for seven with Sabbir Rahman unbeaten on 10 after Mehedi Hasan was caught off the last ball for a duck.

Thursday's first day was disrupted by regular bouts of rain and then bad light.

Mominul Haque and Tamim (56 off 50 balls) laid a solid foundation of 154-3 after being asked to bat on a green-tinged pitch.

Shakib, who was dropped on 4 by Mitchell Santner late in the opening day, was on 5 when play resumed on Friday with Mominul on 64.

Mominul, however, could not add to his overnight score. He was caught by wicketkeeper BJ Watling off Tim Southee as the visitors were reduced to 160-4.

But that was the Black Caps’ only success until late in the final session.

Both Shakib and Mushfiqur, who is the other double centurion for Bangladesh beside Tamim and now Shakib, batted fluently maintaining a good strike rate before each of them brought up their fourth Test century before tea.

Shakib tucked a Wagner delivery off his legs for a single to reach his century before the 28-year-old guided a Southee ball down to third man for his 17th boundary to bag his ton.

Shakib had a let off on 137 when he appeared to have been caught by a diving Watling down the leg side, but television replays showed the ball had momentarily touched the ground as the wicketkeeper landed and the batsman was recalled.

He was also dropped by a diving Ross Taylor at backward point on 189 from Trent Boult, who eventually ended the pair's stand about 40 minutes before stumps when he had Mushfiqur caught behind by Watling.

Bangladesh's previous record for the fifth wicket was 267 that Mushfiqur and Mohammad Ashraful scored against Sri Lanka in Galle in March, 2013.