TAURANGA: New Zealand's first home series of the World Championship cycle is off to a solid start, courtesy of a professional batting performance against Bangladesh on day one of the first Test.

Despite losing captain Tom Latham (1) in the fourth over, the home side dominated the opening two sessions of the day, thanks largely to a partnership between Devon Conway and Will Young.

Young was run out for 52 by Najmul Hossain Shanto after they put on 138.

New Zealand ended the day on 258/5.

Bangladesh captain Mominul Haque won the toss and chose to put the hosts in, citing the green hue in the Bay Oval pitch. Shoriful Islam struck first after Latham's bat-pad edge found wicket-keeper Liton Das, albeit the tourists appeared timid with the ball in the first half-hour, with Young and Conway shouldering arms frequently.

Taskin Ahmed bowled four maidens in his first five overs, and the pair scored just 14 runs in the first hour of play. In the second hour, the pair progressed through the gears, with Conway hitting two boundaries in the space of three balls to open the floodgates.

Young followed with a boundary of his own, and the pair passed the fifty-run mark in the final half-hour of the session. Mominul opted for Mehidy Hasan Miraz's spin, but the hosts held firm to reach 66/1 before lunch.

In the first over after lunch, Young feathered a delivery from Shoriful behind to Das, but the edge was not picked up by Bangladesh's slip cordon, and an appeal was not forthcoming. Replays showed that the ball made contact with the bat, and Young took advantage of the opportunity, building on his partnership with Conway.

Conway brought up his half-century with a six, while young reached the milestone with a sweep off Mehidy. The pair had brought up their century-partnership in the meantime, as Mominul reflected on his decision to field with regret.

Mominul's Bangladesh, was given a reprieve after the batting combination broke their own partnership with a sloppy bit of running. Young was sent back for a quick single when Najmul Hossain Shanto's flawless pick-up and throw to Das caught the right-hander millimetres out of his ground.

The wicket forced Ross Taylor to bat in his farewell Test at the Bay Oval. Taylor began his knock with a customary flick into the leg-side, but made the most of two successive short and wide deliveries from Ebadot Hossain, bashing both of them through the off-side for boundaries.

Conway crawled to his second Test century. Facing nearly 20 deliveries to move from 93 to 100, he brought up three figures with a pull into the leg side.

Taylor mistimed a drive to Shadman Islam on 31, though it was a rare blip in a strong day for the hosts. Conway and Henry Nicholls continued their surge, adding 38 more runs.

Conway nibbled an edge down the leg-side to Das on 122 after Mominul brought himself into the attack with a left-arm orthodox.

Tom Blundell and Nicholls appeared to have survived the new ball and the final hour of play, but Ebidot Hossain claimed Blundell on the final ball of the day, as the right-hander played onto his stumps.

Edited - SportsAction / Inputs - Agency