WELLINGTON: A dominant innings of 56 by Tamim Iqbal and a patient unbeaten 48 by Mominul Haque steered Bangladesh to 119-2 when rain forced tea to be taken early Thursday, the opening day of the first test against New Zealand.

Tamim played an important role after Bangladesh was sent in on a green but spongy wicket at the Basin Reserve.

He raced to his 20th test half century — his fourth in six innings against New Zealand in New Zealand — from only 48 balls from which he hit 10 fours.

When he posted his half century, Bangladesh was 56-1 of which he had scored 52.

Rain plagued the first day of the test, allowing only 11.3 overs to be bowled before lunch was taken with Bangladesh 39-1, having lost Tamim's opening partner Imrul Kayes for 1 when it was 16.

Tamim was especially hard on Trent Boult who struggled to find his length as he bowled with a strong wind as his back. Tamim took six boundaries from the first 19 balls he faced from Boult whose first spell of three overs cost 26 runs.

But Boult had his revenge when he trapped Tamim lbw for 56 in the 15th over when Bangladesh was 60. South African umpire Marais Erasmus turned down the appeal but New Zealand's review was upheld on review.

Mominul and Mahmudullah (13 not out) steered Bangladesh to tea without further loss, adding 59 in an unbroken partnership for the third wicket.

Apart from the rain that disrupted both of the first two sessions, the match was played in winds gusting to 140kmh.

So severe were some of the gusts that the television cameramen were forced down from the high scaffolding at the southern end.

Southee, who bowled mostly into the wind, had 1-45 at tea and Boult's figures had recovered to 1-50 from nine overs.

The rain break in the afternoon session came 90 minutes after the resumption and an hour before the scheduled tea break. Only 29 overs had been bowled in the first two sessions.