The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Chittagong

Bangladesh are poised for a rare first innings lead as Shakib Al Hasan with six for 41 spun his web to send New Zealand reeling at 155 for nine in their first innings when stumps were drawn on the second day of the Brac Bank first test at Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Ruhul Amin Stadium here on Saturday.

Earlier in the day, Bangladesh's defiant fifth wicket stand could hardly add runs to their overnight total as the Kiwi bowlers led by skipper Daniel Vettori polished off the Tigers' tail to 245 all out in their first innings just before lunch.

One thought, New Zealand, who have a tremendous record in test against Bangladesh, winning five out of six test by innings and the remaining one by nine wickets, will settle down to another runaway start.

But the 21-year-old left-arm spinner Shakib, who is more known as a batting allrounder with only three wickets in his previous six test matches, had other ideas.

When seamers Mashrafee-Bin-Mortaza and Shahadat Hossain failed to dislodge Kiwi openers Jamie How and Jesse Readings, who put on 27 runs for the first wicket stand and were threatening to take away the game from the hosts, Shakib stepped forward to deliver his first blow.

He beat Jamie How (16) in his flight and bowled him neck and crop to open the floodgate.

Shakib never looked back from that moment as he ripped through the Kiwi innings with a magical figure of 6 for 31 and the New Zealand innings was tattering at 155 for nine wickets, still trailing by 90 runs on the first innings.

Things could have been worse only a brave unbeaten 48 by skipper Vettori saved New Zealand from a total embarrassment.

The Kiwis, who squandered the good work done by the bowlers, were in a serious risk of entering the record books as the team to score the lowest total in the first innings in a test against Bangladesh. Shakib, who pitched most of his deliveries, was on perfect line and length enticing the batsmen on to the front foot making life miserable for each and every New Zealand batsman with his superb change of pace and variation of flight.

Bangladesh's spinners took charge once their new-ball bowlers despite bowling a tight spell could dislodge them. Openers Jamie How and Aaron Redmond found it difficult to score runs against the pacers but scoring was even more difficult against the spinners.

Jesse Ryder and Jacob Oram were snapped up by close-in fielders, who hung around them as New Zealand batsmen opted for defensive posture.

Ross Taylor and Redmond were beaten by the flight to be caught in front of the wicket as they were keen on defending rather to force the spinners out of the attack.

As wickets fell like nine pins, a good partnership was desperately needed to stop the rot. Bangladeshi spinners led by Shakib spun their web and the Kiwis simply did not know how to come out of it.

The New Zealand's best stand came from Daniel Flynn's and Brendon McCullum's bat as they added 47 four the fourth wicket. But they failed to capitalize on the start they made as they perished needlessly.

Flynn was caught behind off Naeem Islam for 19 to give the debutant his first Test scalp, while McCullum was deceived by the pace of a delivery from Shakib, spooning a simplest of the catches.

Captain Vettori, who wiped off the Bangladesh tail with 5 for 59, once again came to his team's rescue as he hung on to a priceless 48 with a sensible approach with a mixture of aggression and defence.

Earlier a record fifth-wicket stand had given Bangladesh hopes yesterday but this morning they could crawl to 245 from 183 for 4.

Mehrab and Rahim added a record 144 for the fifth wicket as he departed for 83 adding only four runs to his overnight total.

Rahim and debutant Naeem Islam (14) added 41 for the sixth wicket but Vettori came back to polish the Bangladesh tail off. The Bengal Tigers lost their last five wickets for 16 runs.

The only notable Bangladesh batsman on the second day was Mushfiqur Rahim, who added 20 to his overnight score of 59 before he became another victim of Vettori.

Today, 15 wickets fell with Bangladesh losing six while the Kiwis nine. The most interesting thing to note is that one wicket that of Mehrab was grabbed by pacer O'Brien while the other 14 had fallen to spinners.

The wicket on the third day is going to spin more while the cracks appearing on the pitch are going to worsen. Any healthy first innings lead tomorrow for Bangladesh will be priceless and everything will depend on the home batsmen whether they can bring out their best when it matters most.