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Wellington - According to fast bowler Neil Wagner New Zealand failed to put enough pressure on Bangladesh on the opening day of the first Test at the Basin Reserve.
New Zealand picked up three wickets on an abbreviated day
where just over forty overs were bowled with Wagner, Tim Southee and Trent
Boult each picking up a wicket though Wagner could have had a second in the
penultimate day over of the day when Mitchell Santner dropped Shakib-al-Hasan.
With a green wicket in Wellington and clouds overhead the
decision of the Black Caps to bowl first surprised nobody but the way
Bangladesh played may just have.
Wagner said after play: "I think today was Bangladesh's
day.
"I think we pride ourselves as a bowling unit to use
those conditions. I think we didn't bowl well in partnerships for a long period
today. We missed a little bit and we got hurt. I think Tamim [Iqbal] batted
really well.
"They showed a lot of intent and came out positive to
put the bad ball away. It obviously put us on the back foot. We never really
settled into a rhythm and into an area because of the way they batted."
Tamim Iqbal took the fight to New Zealand with a knock of 56
off just fifty balls but Wagner still feels bowling first was the right
decision.
Monimul Haque is looking to add to his two test centuries
against New Zealand and he is over halfway there reaching 64 by the end of play
on day one.
Wagner added: "It was definitely [going to be] bowl
first [after winning the toss].
"You never know which way the weather is going to go.
It was a collective decision to bowl first. If we had bowled in the right areas
for a long period of time, we would have known there was enough for us.
"I don't think much has changed from the last time I played [Mominul] in Dhaka a few years ago. He is a pretty good batter and he showed a lot of patience. He showed a lot of fight. He never really gave a chance and he left the balls well. He obviously loves batting against us so we have to come hard at him tomorrow."
