On the second day of the Mount Maunganui Test, Bangladesh combined good bowling with patient batting. New Zealand will be disappointed with their 328 in the first innings, which is their lowest total at home against Bangladesh. But witnessing the visitors reach 175 for 2 at stumps, with half-centuries from Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mahmudul Hasan Joy, would have irritated them even more.
Bangladesh became only the second visiting team to bat more than 50 overs for the first two wickets in New Zealand in the last eight years. Bangladesh's openers, who were under scrutiny following a disastrous Pakistan series, started cautiously.
Shadman Islam's only powerful shot was a commanding pull off Tim Southee and Joy hit both fours before the tea break. After the drinks break, Shadman was out for 18 as he chipped one back to Neil Wagner, who had to lunge forward to complete the catch.
Shanto got off to a shaky start to his innings, being struck on the stomach by the first delivery before edging one past first slip. Joy, on the other hand, was still having trouble with the moving delivery. When Wagner declined to review a lbw call with three reds, claiming it took the inside edge, he had luck on his side. Joy, on the other hand, was tenacious in his defensive approach, rarely playing anything challenging outside the off-stump.
Shanto reached his half-century with seven fours and a slog-swept six. He was dismissed in the final hour when Wagner bowled him with a classic over-the-wicket outswinger. Will Young grabbed Shanto's uppish drive at the gully.
New Zealand had lost their last five wickets for 70 runs earlier in the day, with Mehidy Hasan Miraz taking three of them. In a rush of wickets, he had Kyle Jamieson caught at long-on, Tim Southee at short midwicket and Neil Wagner caught behind to keep the home side on the back foot. In a quest to score 75 off 127 balls, Henry Nicholls hit 12 fours. Shoriful Islam finished with three for 69 and Mehidy took three for 86.