Bangladesh centuries in vain as Black Caps earn series lead

Hamilton, March 3: Centuries from Mahmudullah Riyad and Soumya Sarkar could not prevent Bangladesh falling to defeat by an innings and 52 runs on Sunday (March 3), as New Zealand took a 1-0 lead in the Test series.

The Black Caps gained total control of the opening match in Hamilton after Kane Williamson's double century of 200 not out allowed the hosts to post a mammoth 715-6 declared in their first innings.

Having been bowled out for 234 batting first, the tourists faced a tough task attempting to delay the inevitable at Seddon Park, where they resumed on 174-4 early on day four.

Sarkar and Mahmudullah built impressively on their overnight scores of 39 and 15 respectively, the former playing freely to reach 149 from just 171 deliveries, an uninhibited knock that included 21 fours and five sixes.

Having put on 235 runs for the fifth wicket alongside the captain, he was eventually dislodged by Trent Boult (5-123) with the second new ball, Sarkar attempting to play a flick across the line and missing, the ball clipping back pad and dislodging off stump.

Liton Das (1), Mehidy Hasan Miraz (1) and Abu Jayed (3), the latter providing Boult with his five-for, failed to offer an effective foil for Mahmudullah, who nevertheless survived to reach 146, before Tim Southee (3-98) intervened.

An attempt by the Tigers' skippers to thread a shot between point and third man proved too high, and was taken by Boult at deep point. Mahmudullah, though, could be proud of his highest Test score, with hooked sixes off Neil Wagner and two back-foot drives through cover, the latter coming at the expense of Boult, particularly easy on the eye.

The captain gone, Bangladesh's entertaining resistance ended with a whimper on 429 all out when Ebadat Hossain went for a duck, caught behind edging Southee to BJ Watling, who passed Adam Parore as the New Zealand wicketkeeper with the most dismissals to his name.

BJ Watling now has the record for most dismissals by a NZ keeper! #NZvBAN pic.twitter.com/SpJqJC5aND
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) March 3, 2019

The hosts will have an opportunity to seal the series when the second Test starts in Wellington on Friday (March 8), followed by the third and final match in Christchurch later this month.