||CF Correspondent||

Opener Tamim Iqbal struck his ninth Test hundred but New Zealand made a quick inroad after his 126 off 128 balls to dismiss Bangladesh for 234 runs in the first Test in Hamilton on Thursday.

New Zealand reached 86-0 at stumps to take a firm grip on the game with opener Jeet Raval and Tom Lathan remaining unbeaten on 51 and 35 runs respectively.

Bangladesh missed the chance to break the opening stand before New Zealand opened their account but Soumya Sarkar dropped a straight forward catch of Latham at second slip off debutant Ebadat Hossain.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Liton Das was earlier last Bangladeshi batsman dismissed after he made 29 off 58 balls as he gave a catch to Trent Boult off Neil Wagner at deep fine leg.

The Tigers lost eight wickets in the second and third session of the day to be restricted to mediocrity despite Tamim’s quick-fire innings featuring 21 fours and a six.

Tamim was involved in two fifty-run stands with Shadman Islam and Mominul Haque and scored at a good pace which gave Bangladesh an early edge after New Zealand send them to bat first at Seddon Park.

Shadman was the first batsmen to be dismissed in Bangladesh innings after he made 24 off 32 balls as he missed a swing ball of Boult that uprooted his stumps, which ended a 57-run opening stand.

Tamim struck three consecutive boundaries to Boult in his next over to race towards his 26th Test fifty off 37 balls and despite being dropped on 65 Colin de Grandhomme of his own bowling, Tamim looked comfortable at the crease.

Mominul made a slow start but was involved a 64-run stand second wicket with Tamim. However, Mominul (12 off 46) was dismissed by Neil Wagner in the penultimate over of the first session.

Bangladesh suffered a collapse in the post-lunch session as Wagner removed Mohammad Mithun for eight before Tim Southee had Soumya caught by BJ Watling for one.

Colin de Grandhomme brought an end to Tamim’s swashbuckling innings forcing him to give a catch to Kane Williamson at gully. Mahmudullah (22) looked confident initially but a got a top-edge off Wagner that flew Trent Boult at fine leg.

Mehedi Hasan struck a six to open his account but gave a catch at forwarding short leg in the next ball to be dismissed for six by Wagner and tea was taken immediately.

Southee dismissed Abu Jayed (two) and Khaled Ahmed ( 0) off successive overs after the break before Wagner wrapped up Bangladesh innings to finish with 5-47, his sixth five-wicket haul in Test. Bangladesh handed pacer Ebadat debut while Mustafizur Rahman was rested for the first Test.