Vettori won the toss, put Bangladesh in to bat and scuttled them for 137 before tea.

I guess it's all going to script for the Kiwis (I'd be inclined to think Cumming getting out for cheap is about as predictable too, I wonder when our last 50 run opening partnership was in a test, or even a ten run one).

17/1 with tea closing in on day one.

I think NZ desperately needed an "easy" series. Now it is only Bangledesh, sure, but as the old saying goes "Success breeds success"

Most important of all, the NZ batsman need to get long stints at the crease. Get their confidence going, get them into the habit of scoring, get their feet moving. The Bangledeshi bowlers, while not the strongest, are still good enough to give the NZ team a decent hit-out.

I hope the Kiwis get some good results in this series, so they are more prepared for England

__________________

NZ four down at the end of day one but well in control. I'd say only Bell would be happy with his batting today, as per usual the lower order will score the bulk of the runs.

The Kiwis just need to spend as long at the crease as they can to get valuable match practice ahead of the England tour.

The Bangladesh opening batsmen have shown a tremendous resolve in the second innings. The limitations of NZ bowling attack are thoroughly exposed. I hope the other batsmen to come take a leaf out of the openers' book and apply themselves so that we at least have a good match.

Well Bangladesh may have found a decent player in Tamim Iqbal,i know it is only his debut but 2 50's in your first game is an impressive effort,hopefully he can become a regular decent scorer for them and it may be the start of better times for them.

As for New Zealand this looks the weakest side they have had for years,the bowling looks weak and apart from Fleming the batting doesn't look the strongest either.If England don't beat them later this winter then they are in serious trouble.

Agreed. I like Tamim, good 1 day player, had a great start with some good knocks in the WC and looks an exciting talent at about 18-19. Hope the rest of the battling line up really puts up a challenge to the NZ side and dont just colappse, so at least NZ have to chase something 200+ and be tested for a win.

This NZ side is very poor atm, apart from Oram, McCullum, Vettori and maybe Fleming/Martin, they have no real fixtures in their test side anymore, which is a shambles imo!

Bells/Cumming opening, not a fan of this, as cant see it lasting, Papps hasnt really shown anything either, something needs to get sorted lads!

Battling line up reads Fleming, Sinclair, Fulton and Oram, Orams a very good all rounder and a key part to their balance, the other 3 have the capabilites to be good test batsmen, whilst Flemo already is (but probably at the end of his career). The other 2 need to cement a place in this series for England.

Vettori as the spinner at 8 behind Brendon is fine.

3 seamers, which is now lacking Bond Franklin is injury prone, shame as im a fan of his. Martin at 11 usualy means Mills (whos a far better 1 day bowler) and at the moment, either Mason, Gillespie or O'Brien. Really dont believe that O'Brien or Mason are good enough to represent their nation, whilst Gillespie can be a touch expensive at times, whilst rather inexperienced. Hopefully Franklin will be back for England, or we could throw Jeetan in and spin them out eh

__________________
Hoggy Hoggy Hoggy...OI OI OI!!!

Ah well, thats that. Bangladesh fall apart with no resistance, good comeback from Vettori and co, skip leading the way with 4 wkts.

Big disappointment is that Cumming fails again (1 + 4), when chasing a score in the 30s.

__________________
Hoggy Hoggy Hoggy...OI OI OI!!!

England must be licking their lips ahead of their tour given NZ's poor performance. This should have been an easy innings victory but only two batsmen (oram and bell) showed any resolve.

The bowlings lacking resolve, they bowled outside off too often and needed to be at the wicket more. I'm glad I didn't spend too much time watching this game.