HALF-centuries from Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum rescued New Zealand on the opening day of the one-off Test against Bangladesh in Hamilton. Guptill, who reached a career-high Test score of 80 not out, showed plenty of composure after entering the fray with the hosts struggling at 66 for three.
While it took the right-hander a little time to work his way into his innings, once he did he showed his usual positive intent notching 11 fours in his 146-ball knock.
More importantly for New Zealand he formed three key partnerships with Ross Taylor, Daniel Vettori and McCullum to help New Zealand reach 258 for five when play was finally called off for bad light at 19:40 h (local time).
McCullum, in his 50th Test, scored his 16th Test fifty to finish the day unbeaten on 58.
Rubel Hossain was Bangladesh’s best performer with the ball taking three for 86 off 16 overs.
The other wicket-takers were Shafiul Islam (one for 54) and spinner Shakib Al Hasan (one for 34).
Shahadat Hossain had a disappointing day however, going for 74 runs off 13.1 overs.
The start of play at Seddon Park was delayed by an hour because of wet conditions and, after winning the toss and inserting the New Zealanders, Bangladesh enjoyed a good first session as they made inroads into the hosts’ top order to have them 73 for three at lunch.
Opener Tim McIntosh was first to go for seven when he was caught in the slips by Imrul Kayes off Shafiul and BJ Watling (13) followed shortly afterwards when Rubel also found an edge and Junaid Siddique took the catch in the slips.
Peter Ingram (42) looked assured on his Test debut as he struck five boundaries, including two off Rubel’s opening deliveries, and a six.
But the Bangladesh seamer ended Ingram’s promising knock when he fired in a short ball and the 31-year-old’s attempted pull flew in the air to Shahadat at mid on.
Ingram’s departure brought Guptill to the crease and in the afternoon session he and Taylor (40) kick-started New Zealand’s recovery.
Guptill endured a couple of nervous moments early on when he survived a referral by Bangladesh captain Shakib for a caught behind which was not given. The replay showing the batsman had hit his pad and not the ball.
Guptill had not added a run to his total when Shafiul then dropped a difficult caught-and-bowled chance.
Taylor, who never looked totally comfortable against Rubel, departed shortly afterwards when he edged to wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim.
Vettori survived a big leg-before shout the very next ball – which was again unsuccessfully referred by Shakib. But the New Zealand skipper failed to make the most of his good fortune.
He had scored just 10 when the Bangladesh captain got his man as his opposite number charged down the wicket only to see the ball go past and hit his off-stump.
Guptill, who brought up his half-century late in the afternoon session, and McCullum continued New Zealand’s fightback and by tea the hosts had reached 212 for five.
After the interval there was enough time for the wicketkeeper-batsman to notch his 50 before they were offered the light for the first time and took it.
When play resumed after a short delay only 11 deliveries were bowled, for an additional eight runs to the New Zealand total, before the players departed for a second and final time. (Eurosport)
NEW ZEALAND 1st innings
TG McIntosh     c Imrul Kayes b Shafiul Islam     7                   
BJ Watling     c Junaid Siddique b Rubel Hossain     13       
PJ Ingram     c Shahadat Hossain b Rubel Hossain     42       
LRPL Taylor     c Mushfiqur Rahim b Rubel Hossain     40   
MJ Guptill     not out     80                          
DL Vettori     b Shakib Al Hasan     10           
BB McCullum     not out     58                      
Extras:    (b-1, lb-2, w-3, nb-2)    8                          
Total:    (5 wickets; 68.1 overs)    258    (3.78 runs per over)     
To bat: D Tuffey, J Patel, T Southee, C Martin. 
Fall of wickets: 1-17, 2-57, 3-66, 4-126, 5-158.  
Bowling:  S. Hossain 13.1-1-74-0, S. Islam 16-1-54-1 (w-2), R. Hossain 16-0-86-3(nb-2, w-1) S.Al Hasan  20-5-34-1, A. Ahmed 2-0-4-0, Mahmudullah 1-0-3-0.