NZ romp to a nine wicket win

New Zealand batsmen made short work of the 109-run target in their second innings as they romped home in 18.4 overs against Bangladesh in the second Test at Hagley Oval, Christchurch today.

Black Caps openers Jeet Raval and Tom Latham began positively and the 56-run partnership in 12.3 overs made sure the match didn’t go to the fifth and final day. Jeet was dismissed for 33 in 40 balls by Kamrul Islam Rabbi.

However, Colin de Grandhomme hammered 33 in 14 balls with four huge sixes to take his side home emphatically.

Kamrul bowled three overs for 21 runs for the wicket of Jeet. Earlier, Bangladesh were bowled out for 173 in the second innings on the fourth day.

The spectacular collapse left the home side with a chance to pull off an easy win even before going into the fifth and final day. They needed 109 runs in a possible 19 overs to complete a series sweep.

Bangladesh were in absolute mess when they were reduced to 115-8 shortly after the tea break before a ninth wicket stand of 51 runs between Taskin Ahmed and Kamrul Islam extended the inexplicable innings a bit. It was the highest stand in the innings and Taskin Ahmed scored an enterprising 33 off 30 balls that contained a huge six. Kamrul remain unbeaten on 25.

Bangladesh slipped to 100 for five at tea after Sabbir Rahman fended a rising ball from Neil Wagner to wicketkeeper BJ Watling for duck. When they returned after the break they lost wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan for a two-ball duck. Mehedi Hasan soon followed scoring a nervous four.

Opener Soumya Sarker departed for 36 off 64 balls offering a catch at gully, where Jeet Raval took it spectacularly. It ended a 41-run second-wicket stand that also involved Mahmudullah, who dragged one on to his stump after scoring a compact 38.

Shakib Al Hasan came and departed after playing some senseless shots. His first shot off Colin de Grandhomme went between the slips for four. He charged down the wicket off the second ball he faced and edged it to the second slip where Raval dropped him. The left-hander then chanced his arms against a packed off-side field against Tim Southee and was caught at backward point for seven-ball 8. It was Southee’s 200th wicket.

Mahmudullah was playing well before dragging the ball on to the stumps after scoring 38 as Bangladesh were reduced to 92-4. There was more misery for the visitors as Sabbir Rahman's painful 11-ball stay was brought to an end by a rising delivery outside the off stump which the batsman poked to the slips. At a pace the wickets have been falling, there is a chance of a four-day finish of the game.

Tamim Iqbal fell for eight runs as Bangladesh reached 20 for one at lunch. The Bangladesh skipper tried to pull a bouncer off Tim Southee, off the sixth over of the innings, only to find Mitchell Santner at deep square leg as the visitors were in early trouble after conceding a 65-run lead in the first innings.

The first innings of the home team ended at 354 when Neil Wagner was run out in a peculiar fashion. He ran for a comfortable second, but he didn't drag his bat and was airborne when wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan flicked the ball into the stumps. The decision was made by the third umpire.

 

Henry Nicholls gave New Zealand a considerable first-innings lead but the left-hander got out on 98, dragging off-spinner Mehedi Hasan Miraz on to his stumps shortly after the first drinks break. But by the time he was dismissed he put on a valuable 57 runs for the ninth wicket with Wagner.

Shakib Al Hasan struck in sixth over of the fourth morning when he had Tim Southee caught at cover by Mehedi Hasain for 17.

The Black Caps, resuming the day on 260-7 after a no show on the third day due to rain, started briskly hitting a boundary in every over before Southee got out.

It was Shakib’s fourth wicket after his three off nine deliveries deep into the final session on the second day. Mehedi made some amends for his earlier blunder by holding onto the catch. He dropped Southee in the second slip off Kamurul Islam Rabbi when the batsman was on 15.

The catching was once again very poor. Nazmul Hossain dropped Wagner off Taskin Ahmed when he was on 7.

The home side however quickly wiped out the deficit with Nicholls in full flow after resuming on 56. Bangladesh took the second new ball after 80 overs. The game started half an hour behind the schedule due to a wet patch on the pitch.

Score

Bangladesh: 289 and 173

New Zealand: 354 and 111 for 1 (18.4 overs)

Result: New Zealand win by 9 wickets