Redmond fifty gives Kiwis hope

Aaron Redmond hits an unbeaten half-century to put New Zealand in a promising position at the end of day four of the first Test against Bangladesh.

New Zealand's Aaron Redmond, left, and Jamie How at the crease during the fourth day of their first Test against Bangladesh.

CHITTAGONG // Aaron Redmond hit an unbeaten half-century to put New Zealand in a promising position at the end of day four of the first Test against Bangladesh today. He was 62 not out, his maiden Test fifty, and despite a late run out, the tourists reached 145 for two at the close in pursuit of a victory target of 317. Earlier Bangladesh were dismissed for 242 in their second innings after they had established a 74-run lead when New Zealand could only manage 171 in reply to the home side's 245. Redmond and the nightwatchman, captain Daniel Vettori (0), were unbeaten at stumps, after Jesse Ryder (38) was run out when Mashrafe Mortaza threw a direct hit from the third-man boundary. The Kiwis lost Jamie How for 36 when the opener was bowled by the left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak, before Redmond and Ryder saw the tourists safely through to the tea break. "I think we were a bit more patient today and we took the better options for the shots, hitting the right areas and giving the full face of the bat," Redmond said after the match. "The game is evenly poised. The first session is going to be crucial. The wicket is not that bad and it hasn't deteriorated as much as we thought it would." Razzak said he was hopeful Bangladesh had the opportunity to win the match. "We are still in the game. We have a very good chance to win it, not just good, I should say a big chance. "New Zealand are still trailing us by 171 runs. We have bundled them out with the same score in the first innings. At that time we had to take 10 wickets, but now we just need eight wickets," Razzak added. Bangladesh had resumed on 184-8 before the pace bowler Iain O'Brien got the day's first breakthrough when Razzak (18) was caught by Ross Taylor at slip. Razzak and Mortaza had shared a 40-run ninth-wicket partnership to frustrate New Zealand as the final two wickets added 62 valuable runs. Mortaza went on to score 44 before he was stumped by the wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum off the part-time bowler Redmond to close the innings.

*Reuters