A fight half century by Mohammad Ashraful prevented Bangladesh from being routed on the opening day of the first cricket Test against New Zealand in Dhaka on Tuesday.

After electing to bat on a slow, turning wicket, the hosts lost three wickets for five runs in the first seven overs before Ashraful offered solid resistance to score an impressive 67 and enable his team end the day on 165 for six at stumps.

Khaled Mashud, leading the side in the absence of injured captain Habibul Bashar, was unbeaten on 12 along with Manjural Rana, on 16, at close.

Ashraful was involved in a 115-run stand for the fourth wicket with Rajen Saleh, who scored 41.

Fast bowler Jacob Oram did the early damage, claiming two quick wickets. Left-arm seamer James Franklin also tormented the Bangladesh batsmen and finished the day with two wickets for 23 runs.

Left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori struck twice in the last session, claiming the wickets of Ashraful and Alok Kapali to put paid to the hopes of a Bangladesh recovery.

Scoreboard

Bangladesh (1st innings):
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
Mohammad Ashraful c Astle b Vettori 67
Alok Kapali c McCullum b Vettori 14
Khaled Mashud not out 12
Manjurul Islam Rana not out 16.

Extras: (lb-7, nb-5, w-1) 13.

Total: (for six wickets, 90 overs) 165

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-5, 3-5, 4-120, 5-124, 6-136

To bat: Tapash Baisya, Mohammad Rafique, Tareq Aziz

Bowling: Oram 18-7-27-2 (nb-1), Franklin 13-5-25-2 (nb-4), Styris 2-1-4-0, Butler 12-3-34-0 (w-1), Vettori 29-15-26-2, Wiseman 16-5-42-0.

New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (captain), Mark Richardson, Mathew Sinclair, Scott Styris, Nathan Astle, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum, Daniel Vettori, Ian Butler, James Franklin, Paul Wiseman.