Guptill Rescues New Zealand

Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum saved New Zealand from embarrassment on the opening day of the one-off Test against Bangladesh.

The sixth-wicket pair shared an unbroken stand of 100 to see the Black Caps through to 258-5 at stumps in Hamilton.

Guptill, who reached a career high Test score of 80 not out, showed plenty of composure after entering the fray with the hosts struggling at 66-3.

While it took the right-hander a little time to work his way into his innings, once he did he showed his usual positive intent notching 11 fours in his 146-ball knock.

More importantly for New Zealand he formed three key partnership with Ross Taylor, Daniel Vettori and McCullum before play was finally called off for bad light at 7.40pm local time.

McCullum, in his 50th Test, scored his 16th Test fifty to reach the close unbeaten on 58.
Rubel shines

Seamer Rubel Hossain was Bangladesh's standout performer with the ball taking 3-86 off 16 overs.

The other wicket-takers were paceman Shafiul Islam (one for 54) and left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan (1-34) but fast bowler Shahadat Hossain had a disappointing day, going for 74 runs off 13.1 overs.

The start of play at Seddon Park was delayed by an hour because of wet conditions and, after winning the toss and inserting the New Zealanders, Bangladesh enjoyed a good first session as they made inroads into the hosts' top order to have them 73-3 at lunch.

Opener Tim McIntosh was first to go for seven when he was caught in the slips by Imrul Kayes off Shafiul and BJ Watling (13) followed shortly afterwards when Rubel also found an edge and Junaid Siddique took the catch in the slips.

Peter Ingram (42) looked assured on his Test debut as he struck five boundaries, including two off Rubel's opening deliveries, and a six.

But the Bangladesh seamer ended Ingram's promising knock when he fired in a short ball and the 31-year-old's attempted pull flew in the air to Shahadat at mid on.

Ingram's departure brought Guptill to the crease and in the afternoon session he and Taylor (40) kick-started New Zealand's recovery.

Guptill though endured a couple of nervous moments early on when he survived a referral by Bangladesh captain Shakib for a caught behind which was not given. The replay showing the batsman had hit his pad and not the ball.

He had not added a run to his total when Shafiul then dropped a difficult caught-and-bowled chance.

Uncomfortable

Taylor, who struggled against Rubel, departed shortly afterwards when he edged to wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim.

Vettori survived a big leg before shout the very next ball - which was again unsuccessfully referred by Shakib. But the New Zealand skipper failed to make the most of his good fortune.

He had scored just 10 when the Bangladesh captain got his man as his opposite number charged down the wicket only to see the ball go past and hit his off-stump.

Guptill, who brought up his half-century late in the afternoon session, and McCullum continued New Zealand's fightback and by tea the hosts had reached 212-5.

After the interval there was enough time for the wicket-keeper batsman to notch his 50 before they were offered the light for the first time and took it.

When play resumed after a short delay only 11 deliveries were bowled, for an additional eight runs to the New Zealand total, before the players departed for a second and final time.