Rivals frustrated by rain
The Black Caps are still odds-on to complete another clean sweep over Bangladesh in the tourending test series, providing their bowling attack can multi-task effectively at Hagley Oval.
Although day three of the second test was washed out by a continuation of Christchurch’s underwhelming summer on Sunday, Black Caps’ bowling coach Shane Jurgensen felt there was still ample time available to consign his former team to an eighth successive loss before they head to India.
The second test was evenly poised when rain intervened for the first time during the final session on Saturday and although another 90 overs were wiped from the match on Sunday, Jurgensen said the Black Caps could back-up the seven-wicket win at the Basin Reserve if his bowlers support Henry Nicholls and then swiftly roll the tourists.
When play resumes - fine weather is predicted on days four and five - the Black Caps hopes of erasing a 29-run first innings deficit primarily rest on Nicholls, who is unbeaten on 56, his fourth test half century.
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Tim Southee (4) is his first ally and history suggests not a particularly reliable one - when the Black Caps build on their 260-7 so Neil Wagner and Trent Boult must also provide stickability if the Black Caps are to defy in-form allrounder Shakib al Hasan and at least get in credit.
‘‘It’s a good opportunity for them to support Henry and hopefully squeeze out as many runs as we can and get a decent lead,’’ said Jurgensen.
Shakib collected three wickets with his left-arm spin on Saturday as the Black Caps, who are $1.85 favourites to win, saw their plans to post a sizeable lead evaporate before the drizzle.
The 46-test veteran looms as a threat on Monday and if the Black Caps bat again on a wearing pitch. Seamers Kamrul Islam, Taskin Ahmed and Rubel Hossain should also be encouraged by operating on a surface that has been undercover.
Jurgensen, after all, watched as the Black Caps routed Pakistan for 133 at Hagley Oval in November once the weather allowed the test to start on day two.
‘‘I think it’s going to be a real test of our character as a team to try and get as many runs as we can, and then the bowlers come out and do a good job.’’
The Black Caps certainly achieved those goals in Wellington after Bangladesh amassed a record 595-8 after being asked to bat first in the capital the shortfall was a manageable 56 before the injuryhit visitors crumbled for 160 on the final morning and Kane Williamson’s unbeaten hundred spearheaded a relaxed chase.
However, the Black Caps fourpronged pace attack was not as ruthless early on day one as Soumya Sarkar (86) and Shakib (59) found runs relatively easy to come by before Bangladesh were limited to 289.
‘‘The thing is Bangladesh is a very positive team, if you don’t quite get it right they’ll play positively and they certainly did that and put the pressure back on us,’’ said Jurgensen, who was head coach of Bangladesh between 2013-14.
‘‘We haven’t been quite at our best in this series, we know that, so the [Bangladesh] second innings is a really good opportunity for us to improve.’’
That effort will likely involve Mitchell Santner after the frontline spinner has been confined to contributing 29 with the bat in his elevated role at No.6.
‘‘Mitchell might come into the game,’’ said Jurgensen, who also provided an insight into combating Shakib. ‘‘He likes it when people are too aggressive to him.’’