DHAKA, 21 October 2004 — New Zealand rode on fast bowler James Franklin’s hat trick to seize the initiative on the second day of the opening Test against Bangladesh here yesterday.
The tourists were then indebted to opener Mathew Sinclair (76) for reaching 207-5 at stumps in reply to Bangladesh’s first-innings total of 177 after surviving a spin scare on a slow turning pitch, where the ball sometimes kept low.
Left-arm spinners Mohammad Rafique (3-50) and Manjural Rana (2-54) raised hopes of a Bangladeshi fightback when they reduced New Zealand from 97-1 to 139-5.
All-rounder Jacob Oram and wicket-keeper Brendon McCullum (48 not out) then put on 68 for the unfinished sixth wicket to ensure their team did not lose the advantage provided earlier by left-arm seamer Franklin.
Franklin, 23, began the day in sensational style when he dismissed Rana and Rafique with the last two balls of his opening over and then removed Tapash Baisya with the first delivery of his next over to complete the hat trick.
Franklin became only the second New Zealander after off-spinner Peter Petherick to grab a Test hat trick. Petherick achieved the feat on his Test debut against Pakistan at Lahore in 1976-77. Bangladesh had resumed at 165-6 but Rana fell at his overnight score of 16 when he edged Franklin straight to McCullum, while Rafique was caught at second slip by Scott Styris off the next ball.
Baisya offered no stroke to a delivery that moved in slightly to knock back the off-stump.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Khaled Mashud, leading the side in the absence of unfit Habibul Bashar, scored an unbeaten 23 to edge Bangladesh to 177. New Zealand also struggled for runs on the slow pitch despite impressive knocks from Sinclair and McCullum.
Sinclair put on 63 for the second wicket with skipper Stephen Fleming (29), who was caught behind while attempting to cut a low delivery from Rana. Rana then had Styris (two) caught by Rajin Saleh, who reacted swiftly at short-leg to hold the rebound after the ball had hit his body. Mark Richardson (15) was the first to go, caught behind off Rafique.
Nathan Astle (11) was brilliantly caught by Rana at the lone slip while trying to cut Rafique, while Sinclair became the spinner’s third victim in the last session after hitting 10 fours in his third Test half-century.
