Mominul struck 10 boundaries and a six during his unbeaten knock of 64

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Only 40.2 overs of play was possible on the first day of the first Test between New Zealand and Bangladesh in Wellington due to bad weather, but it was the latter that gained the upper hand courtesy of half-centuries from batsman Mominul Haque and opener Tamim Iqbal.

Opting to bowl first, New Zealand struck early as pace bowler Tim Southee dismissed opener Imrul Kayes for one run.

Not long after, the heavens parted and play was suspended for nearly an hour-and-a-half.

When the match resumed, Iqbal and Mominul began to rebuild the innings with a 44-run partnership, the majority of which was dominated by Iqbal, who went on to bring up his half-century in quick time.

However, he was unable to convert it into a bigger score as he was given out lbw off the bowling of Trent Boult for 56, which came off 50 balls and included 11 boundaries.

Iqbal scored his 20th Test fifty

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Almost 15 overs after Iqbal’s departure, the rain returned and the players was once again ushered off the field.

After a three-hour delay, play finally got underway again and Mominul and Mahmudullah kept the scoreboard ticking with an 85-run stand, during which Mominul surpassed his fifty, before Mahmudullah was caught behind off the bowling of Neil Wagner for 26.

With Mahmudullah gone, Mominul and Shakib Al Hasan only managed to put together an unbeaten nine-run partnership before bad light brought play to an end for the day.

Mominul finished on 64 off 110 balls, which included 10 boundaries and a six, while Al Hasan remained undefeated on five off 11 deliveries, which included one boundary.

Southee, Boult and Wagner claimed one wicket each.

Bangladesh ended day one on 154/3 and will continue batting 30 minutes earlier on Friday at 10:00 local time or 21:00 GMT (the previous day).