Shakib Al Hasan of Bangladesh celebrates his double century

Shakib 217 studs Bangladesh's 542/7

Shakib Al Hasan of Bangladesh celebrates his double century

Friday (January 13) was a day chock full of runs for Bangladesh with Shakib Al Hasan starring with a brilliant double century from and Mushfiqur Rahim hitting a hundred to help the visiting side wrest control of the first Test against New Zealand.

By the time stumps were called on day two, Bangladesh had piled on 542 for 7 at Wellington's Basin Reserve.

Records tumbled left, right and centre. Shakib, the man of the moment, was dismissed 15 minutes before stumps for 217, the highest score ever by a Bangladeshplayer.

Rahim fell a short time earlier for 159 after the duo had put together 349 runs, the record highest partnership for Bangladesh in Tests, surpassing the 312 by Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes against Pakistan two years ago. It is the side's second highest total away from home and also the highest fifth-wicket stand by any team against New Zealand.

Individual records aside, Bangladesh's 542 for 7 is the third-highest first innings total at the traditional bowl-first ground in its 59-Test history.

Shakib cruised past the milestone of 3000 runs and at the end of his innings he was on 3146 to become Bangladesh's second-most prolific batsman behind Tamim, who moved to 3405 with his 56 on the first day.

New Zealand started the day reasonably well, getting rid of Mominul Haque for 64 and reducing Bangladesh at 160 for 4, but things

went steadily downhill for the home side from there. For the next 82 overs, Shakib and Rahim were cruising along as they hit 359 runs at nearly 4.4 an over.

Bangladesh had its moments of good fortune as well. Shakib was shelled on 4 by Mitchell Santner late on the first day and dropped again by Ross Taylor on 189. He also survived an appeal on 137 when BJ Watling, the wicketkeeper, took what appeared to be a brilliant diving catch down the leg side, only for replays to show he briefly grounded the ball on hitting the turf.

However, Wagner finally claimed the all-important wicket when a fatigued Shakib chopped an attempted cut onto his stumps. New Zealand was quick to acknowledge the special innings though, with Wagner leading the applause and several players shaking hands with Shakib.

Rahim too had a heart-in-the-mouth moment. While batting on 78, an inside edge off Boult brushed the stumps, but the bails remained unmoved and the ball sailed through to the boundary.

Boult managed to claim the wicket of the Bangladesh captain in the end though. Rahim attempted to drive a wide delivery but only edged to Watling. He faced 260 deliveries and smacked 23 fours and a six while Shakib batted for almost seven hours, facing 276 balls and stroking 31 fours.

Wagner was the pick of the bowlers for New Zealand with 3 for 124, bowling Mehedi Hasan in the last over of the day, while Boult and Tim Southee picked up two wicke