Joy guides Bangladesh to 104-2 at lunch on day 1

Bangladesh made a good start to the two-match Test series opener against New Zealand, reaching 104-2 at lunch one day at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today.

Opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy led the charge with a serene 42 not out at the first interval of the day with Mominul Haque on 3 as Bangladesh opted to bat first in a pitch appeared to be ideal for batting.

Najmul Hossain Shanto, who led the side in absence of Shakib Al Hasan was dismissed after playing an attacking 37 off 35.

He was particularly harsh on left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel, hitting him three sixes to entertain the sparse crowd.

Patel, one of the only three bowlers to take 10 wickets in a test innings, gave the side first breakthrough, removing Zakir Hasan (12) with a delivery that turned sharply to rattle the stump.

Shanto targeted Patel and opened with six, lofting a delivery over mid-on. He used his feet nicely to dominate New Zealand’s other spinners –Ish Sodhi and Glenn Philips also.

But he paid the price of his aggressive batting, being undone by a full toss delivery off offspinner Philips (1-12).

Joyl who hit seven fours accumulated runs calmly to keep the scoreboard ticking as Bangladesh looked to build on the momentum they have got already. (BSS)