DHAKA, 22 October 2004 — Wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum hit his highest Test score to help New Zealand to a 225-run lead over Bangladesh on the third day of the first Test yesterday.
McCullum made 143 in New Zealand first innings total of 402 in reply to Bangladesh’s 177.
Left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori then took two quick wickets to reduce the home side to 41 for two at the close.
McCullum was ably assisted by the tailenders after New Zealand resumed on 207 for five.
After Jacob Oram had departed for 23, Vettori (23), James Franklin (23, Paul Wiseman (28) and Ian Butler (15 not out) kept Bangladesh in the field until just after the tea interval.
Left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique was the most successful bowler with figures of six for 122, his fourth five-wicket haul in Tests.
McCullum was again to the fore when Bangladesh batted again, catching Javed Omar off Vettori for 14. Vettori followed up by holding a return catch to dismiss Hannan Sarkar for one.
McCullum, 23, swung the match in New Zealand’s favor with his first century in seven Test matches. He put on 71 for the seventh wicket with Daniel Vettori (23) and 57 for the next with James Franklin (23).
Vettori fell in the second session, caught bat-pad by debutant Nafis Iqbal to become left-arm spinner Manjural Islam Rana’s third victim. Franklin was caught pulling Tapash Baisya to square-leg.
New Zealand were 38 runs short of Bangladesh’s total with five wickets in hand when McCullum arrived at the crease on Wednesday.
McCullum, 48 overnight, completed his hundred in the last over of the morning session when he smartly flicked left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique for his 10th four.
