Williamson firm as New Zealand reach 168-4 at tea

Kane Williamson held one end firmly, defying the relentless Bangladesh spin attack to lead New Zealand to 168-4 at tea on day two of the first cricket Test at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.

The former skipper was batting on 66 after hitting eight fours from 116 balls at the second interval of the day with wicket-keeper batter Tom Blundell on 1 after playing 16 balls.

Bangladesh could have dominated the session fully had Taijul Islam not put down the catch, offered by Williamson at mid-wicket just on the stroke of tea when he was on 63.

With Bangladesh's three-pronged spin attack stifling New Zealand, Williamson tried to break the shackle with a slog-sweep which flew to mid-wicket as a regulation catch but Taijul shelled it, much to the despair of the team.

New Zealand are trialing by 142 runs at this moment as Bangladesh were folded for 310 after losing the last wicket in the first ball of the day.
But the local spinners took little time to get into act in a pitch that provided bounce and turn aplenty.

Bangladesh played just one pacer in Shoriful Islam, in fact with an anticipation that the spin will come into the fore as the days go on.

New Zealand openers Tom Latham and Devon Conway though played out Shoriful without any problem, they found them in wanting against offspinners Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nayeem Hasan and left-arm spinner Taijul Islam.

With Taijul tightening the grip, Latham who hit three fours for his 21 off 44 tried to sweep him to counter his threat but ended up top-edging it to Nayeem Hasan at backward square leg.

Conway after scoring 12 from 40 balls followed him two overs later when Miraz had him caught by Shahadat Hossain at silly point as he tried to defend a quicker delivery.

With the side at 44-2 at 16th over, Williamson added 54 runs with Henry Nicholls who after making 19, edged a moving delivery of Shoriful Islam behind the wicket.

But Williamson was unstoppable as he found support in Daryl Mitchell, who batted with his natural aggression to put New Zealand on top.

As the duo batted fluently, Bangladesh were in backfoot. However Taijul had Mitchell stumped, ending the dangerous 66-run partnership and helped the side claw back to the game.

Mitchell hit three fours and on six for his 54 ball-41.

Earlier, New Zealand offspinner Glenn Phillips earlier claimed 4-53 in his just second match to play a key role in bowling out Bangladesh for 310.

Opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy made team-high 86. Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mominul Haque contributed 37 runs each.