Cricket: Black Caps aim for lead of 200

By MARTYN WATTERSON

DHAKA - Piling on another 200 runs has been targeted by New Zealand's cricketers as they look to extend their slim first innings lead over Bangladesh today.

The Black Caps head into the third day of the first test 30 runs ahead of the hosts after posting 207 for five at stumps yesterday.

Brendon McCullum on 48 and Jacob Oram not out 18, produced a crucial late partnership of 68, steering the Black Caps from potential disaster as Bangladesh's spinners profited on the slow pitch at Bangabandhu National Stadium.

Reaching 400 is still seen as a realistic target for the visitors despite struggling to cope with the Bangladesh attack for almost two sessions, but with McCullum and Oram looking to settle, the New Zealand camp are feeling positive.

"We're reasonably happy with the position we're in at the moment," opener Mathew Sinclair said.
"We lost more wickets then we wanted, but we can push on tomorrow."

New Zealand's innings was based on Sinclair's 76 as the opener stroked his way to his third half-century from 99 balls with eight boundaries before being caught leg before wicket attempting a sweep.

"We're in a pretty good position on a reasonably flat wicket. I think given the conditions we can try for another 200 runs and then put the pressure back on them.

"If Brendon and Jacob maintain what they did in the last session we can get the momentum going and push the game forward."

Sinclair expected the pitch to break up further casting doubt whether the match would run full course.
"I think it's going to get worse. This is only the second day so I can see the ball getting a lot lower, so I don't know if the game will stretch to five days."

A declining pitch would be welcomed by the Bangladesh spinners Mohammad Rafique and Manzaural Rana as both bowlers took all five New Zealand wickets between them.

Earlier in the day James Franklin produced some magic for the pace bowlers when he secured just the second test hat-trick by a New Zealander.

Bangladesh resumed their innings at 165 for five, but were decimated after Franklin ripped through the tail to become the first bowler since Peter Petherick took three consecutive wickets against Pakistan in Lahore.

Petherick, then aged 34, was on debut in 1976 and ended the match with five for 129.

Bangladesh lasted less than nine overs yesterday, with Oram taking the fourth wicket.

In the New Zealand innings Mark Richardson fell early with the score on 34, while Stephen Fleming and Scott Styris departed in the space of two runs.

Nathan Astle looked to have settled in with Sinclair but the tight bowling finally paid off when heaved at a ball sending a thick edge to first slip.

New Zealand slumped further when Sinclair left while the score was teetering at 139 for five until McCullum and Oram and prevented any further slide.

Play starts today at 9.30am (4.30pm NZT).

- NZPA