Mirpur, Bangladesh: Mominul Haque smashed his second test century to help Bangladesh cruise to 269-3 and took a 114-run lead over New Zealand at stumps on the fourth day of the second cricket test on Thursday.
Mominul remained unbeaten to score 126 off 225 balls that included 16 boundaries, while Tamim Iqbal contributed 70 before he was out.
Shakib Al Hasan was not out on 32 at the end of the day.
After New Zealand was dismissed for 437 runs with a 155-run lead over Bangladesh, the hosts lost Anamul Haque for 22 and Marshall Ayub for 9.
Neil Wagner returned 2-52 and Kane Williamson took 1-44.
Mominul was untroubled though he gave a chance in an otherwise a pretty organized innings when he edged Doug Bracewell on 122. But Ross Taylor in the first slip failed to grab the opportunity.
He and Tamim added 157 runs to set a new record for Bangladesh for the third wicket stand, going past the previous mark of 103 made by Mohammad Ashraful and Javed Omar against Pakistan in 2003 in Peshawar.
Tamim had to go after he attempted to cut a delivery off Williamson. Taylor in first slip took the catch sharply to end his five-and-a-half hours of standing. The left-handed batsman abandoned his natural attacking instinct to face 218 balls that included just four boundaries.
Tamim said his slow pace that was part of the game plan.
“We had decided to not lose too much wickets, so I went very slow,” he told reporters. “We would try to build a big total and wish to bat until lunch tomorrow so that we can send New Zealand to bat.”
After New Zealand was dismissed for 437 runs with a 155-run lead over Bangladesh, the hosts lost Anamul Haque for 22 and Marshall Ayub for 9 earlier. Tamim was the final man for the day to go.
Earlier in the second session, the hosts added 86 runs after resuming on 87-2 after lunch.
For Bangladesh, Shakib Al Hasan returned 5-103 and Razzak took 2-96.
Wagner, who claimed five wickets in the first innings, took both early Bangladesh wickets.
In the first session, New Zealand lost its two remaining wickets for the addition of 18 runs after resuming on overnight score of 419-8.
BJ Watling remained unbeaten on 70, while Ish Sodhi was run out on 58 and Trent Boult was trapped lbw by Abdur Razzak for 4.
On Wednesday, Corey Anderson's maiden century and half centuries by tailenders Watling and Sodhi helped New Zealand surpass 400 and into a strong position to win the series after the first test was drawn at Chittagong.
