Skipper Stephen Fleming marked his record-breaking Test appearance on Tuesday with a solid unbeaten 87 that put New Zealand in command on the first day of the second cricket Test against Bangladesh.
At tea, New Zealand was 234 for two with Fleming sharing an unbroken third-wicket stand of 173 with Scott Styris, who made 75 off 172 balls.
Fleming, who became New Zealand’s most-capped Test cricketer when he took the field after winning the toss and electing to bat first, stroked 10 boundaries and faced 142 balls.
The 31-year-old batsman has played 87 Tests since his debut against India in 1993, surpassing Sir Richard Hadlee’s mark of 86.
A delighted Fleming raised his bat to the dressing room after becoming the highest Test run scorer for New Zealand, surpassing compatriot Martin Crowe. Fleming’s milestone of 5 446 runs came after he dispatched a boundary to reach 82, overtaking Crowe’s 5 444 in 77 Tests.
Fleming scored his 36th Test 50 off 79 balls.
Bangladesh was competitive in the first session. Mohammad Rafique bowled opener Mathew Sinclair (23) in the 13th over after New Zealand had raced to 40 without loss in just 10 overs.
Recalled spinner Mohammad Enamul Haque snared Mark Richardson (28) to make the New Zealand total 61 for two in the 16th over, justifying captain Khaled Mashud’s early introduction of spinners in the slow pitch of the MA Aziz Stadium.
New Zealand lead the two-match series 1-0 after a lopsided win at Dhaka last week. — Sapa-AP