21 October 2004	Thursday	06 Ramazan 1425

DHAKA, Oct 20: New Zealand rode on fast bowler James Franklin's hat trick to seize the initiative on the second day of the opening Test against Bangladesh here on Wednesday.

The tourists were then indebted to opener Mathew Sinclair (76) for reaching 207-5 at stumps in reply to Bangladesh's first-innings total of 177 after surviving a spin scare on a slow turning pitch, where the ball sometimes kept low.

Left-arm spinners Mohammad Rafique (3-50) and Manjural Rana (2-54) raised hopes of a Bangladeshi fightback when they reduced New Zealand from 97-1 to 139-5.

All-rounder Jacob Oram and wicket-keeper Brendon McCullum (48 not out) then put on 68 for the unfinished sixth wicket to ensure their team did not lose the advantage provided earier by left-arm seamer Franklin.

Franklin, 23, began the day in sensational style when he dismissed Rana and Rafique with the last two balls of his opening over and then removed Tapash Baisya with the first delivery of his next over to complete the hat trick.

"It was a bit of a surprise," said Franklin, who finished with a career-best 5-28 off 17 overs in his fourth Test.

"Things are going on nicely at the moment. It was certainly a good day and I am happy to get the first five-for in Tests."

Franklin became only the second New Zealander after off-spinner Peter Petherick to grab a Test hat trick. Petherick achieved the feat on his Test debut against Pakistan at Lahore in 1976-77.

Bangladesh had resumed at 165-6 but Rana fell at his overnight score of 16 when he edged Franklin straight to McCullum, while Rafique was caught at second slip by Scott Styris off the next ball.

Baisya offered no stroke to a delivery that moved in slightly to knock back the off-stump.

Wicket-keeper/batsman Khaled Mashud, leading the side in the absence of unfit Habibul Bashar, scored an unbeaten 23 to edge Bangladesh to 177.

New Zealand also struggled for runs on the slow pitch despite impressive knocks from Sinclair and McCullum.

Sinclair put on 63 for the second wicket with skipper Stephen Fleming (29), who was caught behind while attempting to cut a low delivery from Manjural.

Manjural then had Styris (two) caught by Rajin Saleh, who reacted swiftly at short-leg to hold the rebound after the ball had hit his body.

Mark Richardson (15) was the first to go, caught behind off Rafique.

Nathan Astle (11) was brilliantly caught by Manjural at the lone slip while trying to cut Rafique, while Sinclair became the spinner's third victim in the last session after hitting 10 fours in his third Test half-century.

Sinclair was trapped leg-before while attempting to sweep a low delivery.

Scoreboard

BANGLADESH (1st Innings, overnight 165-6):

Hannan Sarkar c Fleming b Oram 0

Javed Omar b Franklin 1

Nafees Iqbal c McCullum b Oram 1

Rajin Saleh c Oram b Franklin 41

M. Ashraful c Astle b Vettori 67

Alok Kapali c McCullum b Vettori 14

Khaled Mashud not out 23

M. Islam Rana c McCullum b Franklin 16

M. Rafique c Styris b Franklin 0

Tapash Baisya b Franklin 0

Tareq Aziz c Astle b Oram 0

EXTRAS (LB-7, W-1, NB-6) 14

TOTAL (all out, 98.5 overs) 177

FALL OF WKTS: 1-0, 2-5, 3-5, 4-120, 5-124, 6-136, 7-165, 8-165, 9-165.

BOWLING: Oram 22.5-9-36-3 (1nb); Franklin 17-7-28-5 (5nb); Styris 2-1-4-0; Butler 12-3-34-0 (1w); Vettori 29-15-26-2; Wiseman 16-5-42-0.

NEW ZEALAND (1st Innings):

M.H. Richardson c Khaled b Rafique 15

M.S. Sinclair lbw b Rafique 76

S.P. Fleming c Khaled b Manjurul 29

S.B. Styris c Rajin b Manjurul 2

N.J. Astle c Manjurul b Rafique 11

J.D.P. Oram not out 18

B.B. McCullum not out 48

EXTRAS (LB-2, W-4, NB-2) 8

TOTAL (for five wkts, 79 overs) 207

FALL OF WKTS: 1-34, 2-97, 3-99, 4-122,

5-139.

TO BAT: D.L. Vettori, J.E.C. Franklin, P.J. Wiseman, I.G. Butler.

BOWLING (to-date): Tapash Baisya 13-2-45-0; Tareq Aziz 9-1-46-0 (2nb, 3w); Mohammad Rafique 33-12-50-3; Manjurul Islam Rana 21-4-54-2 (1w); Rajin Saleh 1-0-4-0; Alok Kapali 2-0-6-0.-Agencies