KEY POINTS:
New Zealand were struggling at 55 for three at lunch on the fourth day of the second cricket test against Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Dhaka.
With three days of the match lost to rain, Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful was left with a no brainer when he won the toss. His decision to bowl was rewarded almost immediately as the New Zealand openers Aaron Redmond and Jamie How struggled on the sticky wicket.
Redmond lasted only seven balls before he padded up to an offcutter from seamer Mashrafe Mortaza, giving umpire Daryl Harper little difficulty with the decision and leaving the Black Caps on 10 for one after barely two overs.
Bangladesh paceman Mahbubul Alam picked up his first test wicket on debut three balls later, when he bowled How for eight to leave New Zealand teetering on 10 for two early in the fourth over.
Jesse Ryder and Ross Taylor provided some much-needed stability before Shahadat Hossain struck in the 13th over, removing Taylor's off-stump when he shouldered arms to a ball that jagged back unexpectedly.
With Taylor gone for 19, the Black Caps were 49 for three. Brendon McCullum (one) and Ryder (18) saw New Zealand through to the lunch break at 55 for three.
New Zealand had been forced to make one change in their first test line-up, bringing in Grant Elliott in place of all-rounder Jacob Oram who had to return home because of a back problem.
New Zealand have yet to lose a test against Bangladesh after seven previous meetings, but had to work hard to take the first test in Chittagong last week by three wickets after Bangladesh set them a daunting victory target of 317.
- NZPA
