Cricket: NZ spinners get solid work-out on day two

8.00am

DHAKA - New Zealand's potential wicket-taking weapons in the first cricket test against Bangladesh next week received a solid work-out on day two of the Blacks Caps opening tour match.

Spinners Daniel Vettori and Paul Wiseman bagged two wickets each as the Bangladesh Cricket Board 11 reached 200 for seven at stumps today after New Zealand declared at 344 for six midway through the first session.

Wiseman and Vettori shouldered the bulk of the attack sending down 24 and 21 overs respectively at 57 and 56 runs apiece.

Ian Butler was another successful bowler taking two for 29 from 13 overs.

While the home-side probably proved more resilient than expected after batting for 2-1/2 sessions at the BKSP Cricket Ground, Wiseman enjoyed the work-out as they look to snap up the remaining wickets early on the third and final day tomorrow.

"It was a nice wicket to bowl on if you're bowling spin - a bit of turn and a little bit of bounce so I enjoyed it out there" he said.

"It was good to get a decent blow-out and continue from where I left off in the South Africa A series which finished just over a week ago. It's nice to continue the rhythm."

Wiseman felt the final day would be used to give those batsmen who missed out in the first innings another stint at the crease before the first test on October 19, meaning a result - which is tricky in a three day match - seems unlikely.

The Black Caps' innings was founded on a classy 129 from captain Stephen Fleming who retired, while Hamish Marshall with 51 and Brendon McCullum's 52 not out backed up the skipper.

The warmup match is the first on tour which also takes in two tests and three one-day internationals.

The Black Caps resumed their innings at 285 for six this morning with McCullum and Vettori barely troubled as they advanced the score.

Soon after McCullum passed 50 after an hours play, Fleming called them with Vettori unbeaten on 26.

The Bangladeshi batsmen started their reply slowly with extras top-scoring early until opener Hassan Sanker got into his work.

Progress was halted after they lost their first wicket at 24, but Sanker, who jointly top-scored with 44, led them to 61 for one at lunch.

Once he was caught behind off Wiseman, the hosts lost another two wickets before a fifth wicket stand of 57 carried them through to tea.

Vettori, Wiseman and Butler chimed in with a wicket each in the final session to give the Black Caps an edge heading into the final day.

- NZPA