Raval, Latham combine to put NZ in control
HAMILTON: Jeet Raval, who has struggled to score a test century, and Tom Latham, who has made a habit of it, combined in a 254run opening partnership yesterday which placed the Black Caps in command of the second test against Bangladesh after the second day.
Captain Kane Williamson and Henry Nicholls built on that foundation with a partnership of exactly 100 runs for the fourth wicket which ended when Nicholls was bowled for 53 five minutes from stumps.
The Black Caps were 451 for four at the close of play, a lead of 217 runs. Williamson was unbeaten on 93.
Latham, who was dropped without scoring in the first over of the New Zealand innings, made 166 — his third time past 150 in his past four test innings.
Raval, who had been past 50 eight times before but never beyond 88, posted a maiden century in his 28th test innings before falling for 132.
Together the pair built New Zealand’s highest opening partnership against Bangladesh and its thirdhighest against all nations to take the home side 20 runs past Bangladesh’s first innings total of 234 before Raval was the first wicket to fall.
Raval’s struggle to post his first test century has been very public.
He has been solid and consistent at the top of the order and, with Latham, has built a highlysuccessful opening partnership, one of New Zealand’s best.
He began his test career strongly with six halfcenturies in his first 14 innings, including scores of 80, 84 and 88. But as time dragged on and a century eluded him, its absence became a burden he carried to the crease in every innings.
‘‘It’s been a long time coming so I’m very glad I was able to get over the line,’’ Raval said.
‘‘I’m glad to get that monkey off my back.
‘‘It’s always in the back of your mind but my mind was set on doing my job for the team for as long as possible and along the way I was able to tick off this little benchmark.’’
Latham followed Raval to three figures in a similar innings — Raval reached the mark from 163 balls, Latham from 170.
On a slow pitch at Seddon Park yesterday there were easy pickings for two established batsmen.
The bounce was slow and runs were on easy offer for batsmen who play strongly square of the wicket.
Latham kept up his relentless accumulation of runs this season. He has now scored centuries in three consecutive tests during the New Zealand domestic summer, following his unbeaten 264 in the first test against Sri Lanka in December and his 176 in the second.
He lingers in 12th place on the ICC world test rankings, well behind Williamson, who is second, and Nicholls, who is fifth.
Latham and Raval ground down Bangladesh’s main bowlers so it turned to parttimers with more success.
Captain Mahmudullah removed Raval to a topedged catch and Soumya Sarkar dismissed Latham, who was brilliantly caught by Mohammad Mithun at slip.
Soumya also dismissed Ross Taylor lbw for four.