Resilient Bangladesh head to Lunch on 74 for 2

Bangladesh would be relieved to head to Lunch on 74 for two against New Zealand on the third day of the second Test at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch today.

The visitors, following on, still trail by 321 runs after being all out on 126 on the second day, in reply to New Zealand's massive first innings ­total of 521 for six declared.

Debutant Naim Sheikh is not out on 15 off 81 deliveries, and will resume the second session with Mominul Haque, who arrived in the middle just before Lunch.  

Watchful Naim plays a shot during the first session on day three. Photo: AFP

The Kiwis had to wait till the 14th over to strike the first blow today, courtesy of a brilliant one-handed diving catch by wicketkeeper Tom Blundell after opener Shadman Islam, who looked comfortable during his stay in the middle, half-heartedly tried to flick a Kyle Jamieson delivery, pitched outside the leg stump, towards fine leg. Shadman departed after striking three boundaries to score 21 off 48 balls.

Najmul Hossain Shanto joined debutant Naim Sheikh, who has shown tremendous temperament as a debutant, at the crease and got a life early as he thick-edged Jamieson towards the slip cordon. However, a diving Daryl Mitchell at fourth slip failed to grab the cherry, which was going straight to Tom Latham at third slip.

Shanto went on reach double figures after facing 11 deliveries, with an uppish drive to Jamieson through long off, and had overtaken the score of his resilient partner at the non-striker's end, with Naim on 10, having faced 46 balls by then.

Skipper Latham operated with Jamieson with Neil Wagner and his barrage of short-pitched deliveries from the other end after first spells from Trent Boult and Tim Southee ended wicketless.

The Tigers brought their fifty with Shanto continuing to live somewhat dangerously as a top edge from a pull shot, off Wagner bowling from round the wicket, flew over the boundary at fine leg for a maximum.  Shanto followed the next delivery with a boundary in between the wicketkeeper and leg slip, but this time he played it with soft hands. An exciting contest had developed between the two as Wagner, bowling the 25th over with a silly point, short leg, second slip and gully fielders, got pulled for consecutive boundaries by Shanto, who looked at ease during this over. However, the contest ended abruptly as Wagner having the last laugh in the next over, with Shanto getting caught at deep fine leg while trying to repeat the pull shot. Shanto scored 29 off 35, with five fours and a six.

Skipper Mominul Haque came in and almost got run out in the first ball, trying to sneak in a risky single to get off the mark, a feature that has been common in the last few Test matches he played. Two deliveries later, Mominul had another life when he tucked a bouncer straight to short leg fielder, who couldn't react in time to grab the catch. And to Mominul and the Tigers' relief, it was time for Lunch after the next over.