Cricket: Fleming ton primes Black Caps in opening match

9.30am - By MARTYN WATTERSON

DHAKA - A stylish 129 from captain Stephen Fleming today highlighted the opening day of New Zealand's tour against the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) 11.

Rain stopped play in the 66th over of the three-day warmup match, with New Zealand on 245 for six, Fleming having stabilised the innings with an innings which included 13 fours and three sixes.

Fleming retired after the first rain break in the 55th over but only after he and Hamish Marshall, who posted 51, put together a fifth-wicket partnership of 119.

Earlier the pace attack of the BCB knocked the Black Caps with three wickets inside the first 15 overs here at the BKSP Stadium.

Before Marshall joined his captain, New Zealand were 86 for four and were struggling to piece together a solid partnership.

But the hosts could yet see Fleming blaze away again as they enter the second day eyeing the possibility of batting again.

Brendon McCullum, not out on 18, and Daniel Vettori on five will resume the innings while coach John Bracewell looks towards giving his batsmen a second crack.

"We still have the second innings and we're hoping we get that in, we'll look to try and get two bats out of the game," Bracewell told NZPA.

"Tomorrow we'll probably bat another half hour to an hour with Dan and Brendon and also James Franklin.

"Then we'll try and bowl them out, have another bat and then another bowl at the end of the last day."

The thought of Fleming striding back to the crease could haunt some of the BCB bowlers as he steadily launched into his work throughout his innings today with some well-timed straight drives, while one massive six cleared the ground which resembles a village green rather than a stadium.

Fleming pulled the plug on his innings to give the other batsmen some valuable playing time but Marshall was the only other Black Cap who settled on the hard flat wicket.

In a promising sign for the first test on October 19, Fleming said his concentration was still strong after spending close to three hours in hot and humid conditions.

"I felt a little bit tired coming out of winter into that. So while I may have fatigued a little bit, my concentration was still really strong at the end which was a good sign.

"Obviously with rain around and only three days I would have loved to have kept batting but there are guys who need a hit and they may only get one chance."

It was the BCB who took their chances early after persisting with an all out pace attack for the first 20 overs.

Alamgi Kabir, who took three for 44, struck early with the wickets of Mathew Sinclair and Nathan Astle, while he also bowled Marshall just when he was looking to proceed well past his well-taken half century.

Play starts tomorrow at the earlier time of 9am (4pm NZT).

- NZPA