Cricket: Fleming breaks records as Black Caps build big total

7.15am

CHITTAGONG - Scoring a test century is normally the big highlight of a match, but when you topple two of the most significant records in New Zealand cricket those three figures take a back seat.

That was the case for Black Caps skipper Stephen Fleming yesterday who posted his eighth test century and ended the day 137 not out on day one of the second test against Bangladesh.

If that wasn't enough, Fleming also became the leading test runs scorer and he passed Sir Richard Hadlee's record of 86 tests when he strode onto the MA Aziz Stadium here yesterday for his 87th appearance where New Zealand finished at 338 for three.

Fleming started the day 81 runs shy of Martin Crowe's 5444, and with a four through long-on in the 82nd over, Fleming claimed one of New Zealand cricket's major records.

Once the milestone was achieved the 31-year-old took off his cap and saluted his teammates in the grandstand with a look of quiet satisfaction.

"It was a very special moment. To go past Martin's record was great but I know he could of posted more runs in his career and I want to set some records that he possibly could of gone on to make," Fleming said yesterday.

"Now I'm focusing on hundreds and turning those good starts into three figures. I've got 36 half centuries and even if a third of those could be converted into 100s my statistics would look a lot better. When you look at Martin he had 17 hundreds which shows how good he was."

Fleming batted for over five hours and with Scott Styris who made 89, the pair pieced together a 204 run partnership for the third wicket to set the tourists on target for a very sizeable total.

Fleming scored his century off 154 balls with 12 boundaries, and while he has stressed Crowe's effort since the former captain retired in 1995, Black Caps coach John Bracewell summed Fleming's effort up.

"The fact he's past the longest serving test player and he's up there with the big boys in terms of test playing captains and obviously he's up there as our highest runs scorer in test cricket. It's magnificent and he's still got four or five years of test cricket in him.

"It took some good dedication and application and I think the way he went about it with control and intent was testament to not only his skill but his experience.

"He scored a big double century against Sri Lanka and he knows how to put together big innings on turning tracks. He has good soft hands and both him and Scott are very good players of spin."

Bracewell said Fleming did not say much on his return to the dressing room at stumps after spending a day in the hot and humid conditions, but the effort was acknowledged by the team when they returned to the hotel.

"Collectively everyone headed straight to the manager's room to toast Stephen and that was a nice feeling. They weren't pushed or asked, we toasted him and away we went. It was a nice moment. It wasn't a yahooing thing just a nice quiet beer and each guy went around the room and congratulated him."

Bracewell also mentioned his former teammate Crowe whose record had stood for nearly a decade.

"Because they have quite a history and Martin has been a mentor of Stephen for some time, Martin's got to realise that one of the reasons why these kids play cricket is because they wanted to be the next Martin Crowe.

"I think Martin would be satisfied that one of his former pupils has gone past his record. That's what they're there for."

Fleming looks set to add to his 137 after comfortably seeing off the Bangladesh attack. Nathan Astle was also unbeaten at stumps on 34.

Bracewell said they expected to score at least 100 runs a session in today's play, and if everything went to plan they would look to declare around tea.

The Black Caps started briskly yesterday with Mark Richardson and Mathew Sinclair making 40 runs in the first 10 overs, but Mohammad Rafique struck nine runs later when he produced a cracking delivery that beat Sinclair's bat and removed the offstump bail .

Richardson fell for 28 with the score at 61 when he top-edged a delivery while attempting to sweep a ball from 17-year-old spinner Enamul Haque.

Fleming and Styris soon asserted control and looked to have taken the game beyond Bangladesh after just one day.

New Zealand First innings

M Richardson c Rahman b Haque 28

M Sinclair b Rafique 23

S Fleming not out 137

S Styris c and b Rafique 89

N Astle not out 34

Extras (4b, 9lb, 13nb, 1w) 27

Total (for 3 wkts, 92 overs) 338

Fall: 49 (Sinclair), 61 (Richardson), 265 (Styris).

Bowling: T Baisya 12-0-70-0 (1w), M Rahman 11-1-49-0 (1nb), M Rafique 34-9-85-2 (1nb), E Haque 28-3-95-1 (11nb), R Saleh 6-1-21-0, M Ashraful 1-0-5-0

- NZPA