Bangladesh claimed three wickets in the
final session but world Test champions New Zealand will be confident of a
300-plus score when Henry Nicholls resumes on 32 with Rachin Ravindra joining
him on Sunday.
“It might deteriorate over time but
I think tomorrow the wicket would be really nice to bat on,” Conway told
reporters after the day’s play.
“Hopefully we as a team can
capitalise on that.”
Electing to field, Bangladesh got an
early breakthrough when Shoriful Islam dismissed Tom Latham, who is leading New
Zealand in the absence of injured regular skipper Kane Williamson, in the
fourth over.
Conway, who had been sidelined with a
hand injury suffered during last year’s Twenty20 World Cup, helped the hosts
weather the tricky morning session with his 138-run stand with Will Young.
“The two of us decided that we
needed to be as patient as possible and identify the Bangladesh bowlers who
were bowling really well in that period,” Conway said.
Young made 52 before running himself out
but Conway could not be denied his hundred.
The left-hander pulled Taskin Ahmed for
a single to bring up his second century in his fourth Test match, taking his
helmet off and raising his bat in celebration before embracing batting partner
Ross Taylor.
“To have Ross Taylor out in the
middle when I achieved that milestone, it’s a very special feeling,”
Conway said of the retiring stalwart.
“It’ll be one of those things that
will last in my memory for a very long time.”
Taylor, who will quit Test cricket after
the two-Test series against Bangladesh, made 34 before becoming Shoriful’s
second victim.
Conway’s patient innings, which included
16 boundaries and a six, came to an end when Mominul Haq had him caught down
the leg side.
Ebadat Hossain dismissed Tom Blundell
with the final delivery of the day to lift the spirit in the touring camp.
