Khaled Mashud, who led Bangladesh in the absmnce of Habibul Bashar, was 12 not out with Manzarul Islam batting on 16 after a brilliant sunny day allowed a full 90 overs.

The home side oot off to the worst possible start after stand-in captain Mashud won the toss decided to bat, losing three wickets for only five runs by the seventh over. But Ashraful and vice-captain Rajin Saleh salvaged the side with a 115-run stand, a fourth wicket record for Bangladmsh at this venue.

Ashraful's 67 off 136 balls was a treat to watch for the 9,000-strong crowd while his partner Rajin looked like a man possessed with a solid 41.

The pair proved there was no demons in a wicket, where patience is a virtue to build a big innings.

The first hour of play was always going to be difficult and that's when Bangladesh once again suffered.

Opener Hannan Sarkar was dismissed in the third ball of the innings when he edged Jacob Oram to Stephen Fleming at first slip for a duck while his seasoned colleague Javed Omar, who was 68 shy of 1,000 Test runs, unwittingly tried to dig out a yorker by left-armer James Franklin but only managed to drag it back on to the stumps.

Nafees Iqbal had a forgettable debut. The young right-hander scored only one when he was deceived by an Oram outswinger and wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum took a simple catch.

The crowd eventually started to find their voice with Ashraful and Rajin's producing a brilliant fightback that took the Tigers to 38-3 by lunch.

Ashraful sent the crowd wild in celebration when he hooked fast bowler Ian Butler for six over long-leg.

The Bangladeshi pair rattled 61 runs in the first hour of the second session and Daniel Vettori, whose first six overs were maidens, was cut for a boundary by the young batsman off the first delivery after the break.

Ashraful launched a counter-attack on every Kiwi bowler playing some glorious cover drives on way to a fifth Test half-century. He reached the landmark in 122 balls with a four and a swept six in off-spinner Paul Wiseman's successive deliveries and lofted Wiseman for his third over-boundary before losing Rajin just before tea.

Rajin, who struck five fours and a six off Wiseman in 136 balls, flashed Franklin hard but Oram took a spectacular catch at gully to end the partnership.

Ashraful in his three-hour essay struck eight fours and three sixes before perishing soon after tea when he tried to force Vettori against the spin but was caught at extra-cover.

Bangladesh were reduced to 136-6 losing three wickets in the space of 16 runs as Vettori struck again. The left-arm spinner had Alok Kapali caught behind by McCullum for his second wicket.