Najmul Hossain Shanto led the side from the front and in doing so became the first Bangladeshi to hit a century on captaincy debut as the home side took the stranglehold of the two-match series opening cricket Test against New Zealand at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today.
He was not out on 104 at stumps on third day, guiding Bangladesh to 212-3 and taking a 205-run lead on a spin-favourable track. Mushfiqur Rahim was in the crease with 43 after sharing 96-run with Shanto for the undefeated fourth wicket.
New Zealand were bowled out for 317, in reply to Bangladesh's 310 all out in the first innings.
The century was also his third in the last four innings, after tons in both innings against Afghanistan in Bangladesh's previous Test.
Shanto in fact was instrumental in helping the side take the upper-hand after Bangladesh lost two openers in quick succession that left them to 26-2.
Left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel (1-94) got the better of Zakir Hasan for the second time in the match, with a delivery that spun sharply to rap him in front of leg-stump. Zakir who made 17 didn't even bother to review the decision.
Mahmudul Hasan who top-scored for Bangladesh with 86 in the first innings, was run out in unluckiest manner as a drive from Shanto touched the bowler Tim Southee's palm on the followthrough to hit his stump.
The two wickets in two overs brought back the Black Caps in the contest but Shanto and Mominul added 90 runs for the third wicket to give Bangladesh the edge.
Mominul survived a leg-before shout as New Zealand reviewed in vain but appeared to be confident against his favourite opponent against whom he averaged a whopping 55.61
A run out dismissal cut short his stay in the crease as he was dismissed on 40 after hitting four boundaries from 68 balls.
Shanto and Mushfiqur denied New Zealand any wicket, playing with caution and aggression that served them.
Unlike his first innings 37 which he scored in aggressive fashion, Shanto stayed calm throughout the day to ruin every endeavor the New Zealand bowlers put.
He raised his fifth test hundred off 192 balls, pushing a fuller delivery of Patel past extra cover from a single.
He then hit a boundary in the last ball of that over, his 10th in 193 balls as bad light forced stumps for the third consecutive day.
Earlier, Resuming the day on 268-8, New Zealand captain Tim Southee and Kyle Jameison defied the Bangladeshi spinners astutely, to give the side a slender 7-run lead.
Southee played the key role, scoring 35 off 62 with three fours while Jamieson added 23 off 70.
With the main bowlers of the team failing to make any breakthrough, captain Najmul Hossain Shanto sought the assistance of Mominul Haque's golden arm.
And it paid off with Mominul wrapping up New Zealand innings, dealing a double blow.
He trapped Jamieson leg-before to end 52-run ninth wicket partnership and four balls later got the better of Southee.
Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam took four wickets on Wednesday, including top scorer Kane Williamson for 104, but didn't add to his haul on Day 3 and returned figures of 4-109 from 39 overs.
