Cricket: NZ look to make runs count

Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal finished day two on 56 not out off just 48 deliveries. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand have plenty of runs in the bank thanks to two big individual deposits in the one-off cricket test against Bangladesh in Hamilton.

The match enters its third day at Seddon Park today with New Zealand powerfully placed due to a significant joint account opened by Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum.

They collaborated for a record sixth wicket partnership of 339 to fire the hosts to 553 for seven declared in their first innings yesterday, with the individual contributions both career-best offerings, 189 from Guptill and 185 from wicketkeeper McCullum.

It left the New Zealanders calling the tune when they declared at tea but Bangladesh quickly underlined the helpful batting conditions by rushing to 87 for one before poor light forced an early close.

The pitch should be at its best for batting today. Hidden from the sun for the past two days it remains in excellent condition, as Bangladeshi opener Tamim Iqbal appreciated late yesterday when charging to 56 not out off just 48 deliveries.

His was a minor cameo compared to the sustained hands offered by Guptill and McCullum, but his rapid advance was a timely reminder to the New Zealand bowlers that they must put the ball in the right areas to pose serious questions of the universally under-rated tourists.

Opener Imrul Kayes was the only victim in Bangladesh's response, departing softly for 28 when he edged an unthreatening ball from Dan Vettori to slip.

That dismissal will give the New Zealanders hope that despite a placid pitch Bangladesh could well be their own worst enemies today providing the bowlers hit the right channels.

McCullum admitted as much.

"We probably didn't bowl as well as we'd have liked but Tamim played very well, took it to us and put us under a bit of pressure.

"The beauty of having scored 550 is that you do get a few bites at it.

"If we can hit better areas tomorrow with our seamers and Dan will continue to do a fine job and if Jeets (Jeetan Patel) can get himself into he game once we get some momentum we can bowl at the middle order.

"If we can execute our plans across both the seamers and spinners that will definitely give us a good chance."

McCullum and Guptill gained a full appreciation for the Seddon Park surface after resuming yesterday morning at 258 for five with their partnership already worth 100 runs.

They were not parted for another 239 runs, by which stage both had posted career-best scores, McCullum in his 50th test and Guptill in his ninth.

For Guptill, who had only one first-class century to his name before yesterday, his maiden test hundred could not have been better timed after losing his place in the top order and being shunted down to No 5.

"I was lucky to still be in the side after a lacklustre start to my career but to get that first hundred is fantastic," Guptill, 23, said.

"To go past 150, there was a lot of emotion there. Hopefully I've cemented my place for a while now."

Their partnership easily eclipsed New Zealand's previous best for the sixth wicket of 246, scored by Jeff Crowe and Richard Hadlee against Sri Lanka in 1987.

It was also the third best by any country for the sixth wicket, surpassing some famous names and falling short of only the 351 posted by Sri Lankans Mahela Jayawardene and Prasanna Jayawardene against India last year, and the 346 put on by two Australians by the names of Jack Fingleton and Don Bradman against England in 1937.

- NZPA