Shakib double ton crushes New Zealand

A double century from Shakib Al Hasan and a ton from Mushfiqur Rahim hammered New Zealand as records tumbled and Bangladesh took control of the first Test on Friday.

They closed day two at Wellington’s Basin Reserve on 542-7, subjecting New Zealand to a harsh day on the field.

Shakib fell 15 minutes before stumps for 217, the highest score ever by a Bangladesh player.

Mushfiqur went a short time earlier for 159 after the pair had put together a record all-time partnership for Bangladesh of 359, eclipsing the 312 by Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes against Pakistan two years ago.

It is also the highest fifth-wicket stand by any team against New Zealand.

The 542 total is the third-highest first innings at the traditional bowl-first ground in its 59-Test history.

As the track flattened out, Shakib cruised past the milestone 3,000 runs and at the end of his innings he was on 3,146 to become Bangladesh’s second-most prolific batsman behind Tamim who moved to 3,405 with his 56 on the first day.