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Wellington - A double century from Shakib Al Hasan and a ton from
Mushfiqur Rahim hammered New Zealand as records tumbled and Bangladesh took
control of the first Test on Friday.
They closed day two at Wellington's Basin Reserve on 542-7,
subjecting New Zealand to a harsh day on the field.
Shakib fell 15 minutes before stumps for 217, the highest
score ever by a Bangladesh player.
Mushfiqur went a short time earlier for 159 after the pair
had put together a record all-time partnership for Bangladesh of 359, eclipsing
the 312 by Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes against Pakistan two years ago.
It is also the highest fifth-wicket stand by any team
against New Zealand.
The 542 total is the third-highest first innings at the
traditional bowl-first ground in its 59-Test history.
As the track flattened out, Shakib cruised past the
milestone 3 000 runs and at the end of his innings he was on 3,146 to become
Bangladesh's second-most prolific batsman behind Tamim who moved to 3 405 with
his 56 on the first day.
With the wind and rain that disrupted day one out of the
picture, New Zealand had early success in the fourth over when Mominul Haque
fell for 64 and honours were even with Bangladesh at 160-4.
But for the next 82 overs Shakib and Mushfiqur were in
command as they piled on 359 runs at nearly 4.4 an over and with an element of
luck.
Shakib was dropped on four by Mitchell Santner late on the
first day and dropped by Ross Taylor on 189.
He survived a tight appeal on 137 when wicketkeeper BJ
Watling took what appeared to be a sensational diving catch down the leg side
only for replays to show he briefly grounded the ball on hitting the turf.
It was Wagner who eventually claimed the wicket when a tired
Shakib chopped an attempted cut onto his stumps and it was Wagner who also led
the applause for Shakib as the New Zealand team acknowledged his masterful
innings.
Mushfiqur had a heart-stopping moment on 78 when an inside
edge off Boult brushed the stumps but the bails stayed on and the ball went
through to the boundary.
Boult eventually claimed the Bangladesh captain with a wide
delivery that Mushfiqur attempted to drive but succeeded only in edging to
Watling.
He faced 260 deliveries in his innings and cracked 23 fours
and a six while Shakib batted for nearly seven hours, faced 276 deliveries and
hit 31 fours.
Wagner was the most successful New Zealand bowler with three
for 124 while Boult had two for 121 and Southee two for 144.
