Mahmudul Hasan flexes his Test match readiness

For a 21-year-old playing for the first time at the highest level in New Zealand, opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy looked surprisingly like he belonged. Up against one of the best bowling attacks, particularly in their own conditions, he scored his maiden half-century and finished the second day's play with an unbeaten 70 - leading Bangladesh's strong riposte to New Zealand's 328.

The undefeated effort, that took Bangladesh to an impressive 175/2 at stumps, also disproved a theory that came up during the home Test against Pakistan last month - that he wasn't ready for Test cricket. In that fixture, Mahmudul struggled, bagging a duck and six in the two innings. The expectation then was for the going to be tougher for the 2000-born as batsmen seldom enjoy conditions in New Zealand.

But the right-handed batter defied all odds, took his time and gradually brushed aside doubts regarding his potential to play Test cricket. Joy also had the rub of the green at times as edges flew through the slip cordon off Tim Southee, and Neil Wagner missed sending an LBW appeal upstairs which would've come back in New Zealand's favour. But he made the most of these repreives and dug deep to eke out a strong innings.

"He (Joy) really batted well and it was a positive thing," Mehidy Hasan said after the second day's play. "It never looked that he is new (to international cricket) and he adapted really well," he said. "We all know he is very good player and a member of the Under-19 champion team and he really played well there and came to the national team on the back of good performance in domestic circuit," he said.

"It's just his beginning and he has all the potential to serve the country for a long time and his performance is good for him as well for the team," he said.

Joy, who came into the limelight on the back of performing well in the ICC Under-19 World Cup, left a big impression during the showpiece event. Joy scored two centuries in the last edition of National Cricket League, Bangladesh's lone first-class tournament, to get a call-up to the national team ahead of the Pakistan series while his 66 against New Zealand A in the practice game made sure that he was in consideration for the opening game in the two-match Test series.

Wagner was also effusive in priase for Bangladesh's younger trio of Joy, Shadman Islam and Nazmul Hasan Shanto, talking up the determination they showed on the day.

"The younger guys(Joy, Shadman and Shanto) played phenomenally. I thought they played patiently," Wagner said. "They didn't really give too many opportunities. They hung in there. They were prepared to dig in. They left the ball quite a lot. It made us ask more questions, and take wickets. It gave them the opportunity to score. I thought that they played really well. Full credit to them. I thought when the ball was there to be scored, they scored. They also left well and defended well," he said.

Among the trio, Joy certainly looked outstanding and now has the chance to carry on on the third day to help Bangladesh seize control of the Test.