Bangladesh skipper Mominul Haque and Liton Das were denied hundreds but their resolute batting helped the visitors eclipse New Zealand’s first innings total and move into a handy lead of 73 after finishing Day III of the opening Test on 401 for six.

Replying to the hosts’ first innings score of 328, four of the top six Bangladesh batsmen registered half-centuries.

Mehidy Hasan was batting on 20 at stumps with Yasir Ali on 11 after Bangladesh added 226 runs to their overnight score losing four wickets. Overnight batsman Mahmudul Hasan (78) was the first of the four to fall after Bangladesh had resumed on 175/2 at the Bay Oval against the World Test champions. Neil Wagner got him caught at gully for his third wicket of the match.

Mominul (88) capitalised on two reprieves early in his knock. First, Kyle Jamieson spilled a return catch before Wagner was found to have bowled a no-ball after Mominul was caught behind.

Liton (86) too fell short of his hundred, slashing at a Boult delivery outside the off-stump and offering an edge to wicketkeeper Tom Blundell. “It was a fantastic partnership between Mominul and Liton,” team director Khaled Mahmud said. “The execution was perfect.”

Trent Boult (3/61) bowled Mushfiqur Rahim for 12 but Mominul and Liton combined in a 158-run stand to deny New Zealand any success in the middle session.