Bangladesh in pole position

Mominul, Liton made NZ bowlers toil on the day as visitors go 73 runs ahead.

NT Correspondent

Day three in golf is referred to as ‘moving day’. If you have designs on victory, it’s when you want to make a significant move into contention, while a poor performance can put you out of the reckoning.

On day three of the first cricket test between New Zealand and Bangladesh at Mount Maunganui, the touring side made their move.

At stumps on Monday, the visitors were 401 for six in their first innings, giving them a lead of 73 with four first-innings wickets in hand.

Day three isn’t the penultimate one of test cricket, but it ended with Bangladesh handily poised to put pressure on the hosts on Tuesday in pursuit of a remarkable win.

Visiting captain Mominul Haque and Liton Das provided the glue which bound their innings, with Mominul making 88 from 244 balls before falling in the last hour of play while Das followed soon after for 86 as the pair put on 158 for the fifth wicket.

Bangladesh’s 156 overs batted is their most in a Test innings outside Asia, as the home side’s bowling attack felt the full toll of the visitors’ heightened discipline. Neil Wagner and Trent Boult took three wickets each but Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee and Rachin Ravindra went wicketless in their 88 overs combined.