Franklin picks hat-trick, Kiwis on top after Day 2

New Zealand rode on fast bowler James Franklin’s hat-trick to seize the initiative on the second day of the the opening Test against Bangladesh here today.

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.

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. He became only the second New Zealander after off-spinner Peter Petherick to grab a Test hat-trick.

Brief scores

Bangladesh: 177 (R Saleh 41, M Ashraful 67; J Oram 3/36, J Franklin 5/28) vs New Zealand: 207/5 (M Sinclair 76, B McCullum batting 48; M Rafique 3/50)