Cricket: Long day in field for Bangladesh

The New Zealand Districts XI finished with the honours on a slow first day in their three-day match against Bangladesh in Wanganui yesterday.

The Districts side reached 232 for three by stumps, 117 of which were contributed by Canterbury Country's Harley James.

James occupied the crease for 310 minutes and 226 balls before falling leg-before to Enamul Haque in the last hour.

The tourists' bowlers found little in the pitch to help them, and the batsmen equally found it hard getting the ball to the boundary, although James did manage nine fours and one six.

New Zealand Districts manager and national selector Ross Dykes said he was thrilled that James had made a century on a pitch which was difficult to score on.

The best of the bowlers was Mashrafe Mortaza, who got enough out of one delivery to fracture the eye socket of opening batsman Grant Robinson.

The ball found its way between the grill and the peak of his helmet and the Hamilton batsmen ended up in Palmerston North Hospital for surgery.

Bangladesh coach Trevor Chappell said his bowlers could possibly have done a bit more with the ball early on.

"I guess the slow pace of the wicket was what we were used to," Chappell said.

"We didn't make great use of the moisture in the wicket at the start, but overall the bowling wasn't too bad.

"I was happy with the way the boys stuck at it."

- NZPA