‘It was a long time coming’
Black Caps made to work for win
Kane Williamson had a wry smile when considering if New Zealand’s trying fourth day in the first test against Bangladesh in Hamilton was similar to the toil the Black Caps endured in their hugely frustrating draw against Sri Lanka in December.
Yesterday, the Black Caps captain was, however, mighty relieved to this time be reflecting on a massive test win that was ‘‘a long time coming’’ after Bangladesh ultimately fell short of replicating what Sri Lankans Kusal Mendis and Angelo Mathews achieved in Wellington more than two months ago.
As day four wore on at Seddon Park, the swashbuckling fifthwicket stand of 235 between Soumya Sarkar and Mahmudullah was feeling more and more like the unbeaten 274-run partnership shared by Mendis (141) and Mathews (120), who batted out an entire day to rescue a draw, with the help of rain, during a test at the Basin Reserve.
Against Bangladesh, it was eerily similar as the Black Caps again resumed after day three with a huge first-innings lead before some stubborn batting resistance thwarted their bowling attack’s best efforts.
‘‘I suppose the Bangladesh side were a lot more aggressive [compared to Sri Lanka in December], which meant they were clearly scoring very, very quickly. As a bowling unit, you’re hoping that might provide an opportunity,’’ Williamson said.
‘‘There was some brilliant batting. If we reflected back to the Sri Lanka game, there was also some fantastic batting when we weren’t able to get any opportunities.
‘‘To get the breakthrough, when it came with the second new ball, it was a long time coming. We had to be very patient and it was great that we could open up an end from that point on.’’
Soumya and Mahmudullah walked to the middle with Bangladesh 174-4, trailing by 307 runs, after New Zealand had declared on their highest test total (715-6) following Williamson’s second double century, the lead then 481.
Both achieved their highest test scores after racking up 136 runs in the first session and Soumya was rewarded with his maiden test century off 94 balls, equalling Tamim Iqbal for Bangladesh’s fastest ton in tests.
But their onslaught came to an end halfway through the second session as star paceman Trent Boult struck with the new ball en route to notching his eighth fivewicket haul (5-123) in tests, ending Bangladesh’s defiance as the Black Caps won by an innings and 52 runs.
New Zealand reaped the rewards for digging deep as Soumya fell for 149 after he was bowled by Boult, Mahmudullah later went for 146, and Bangladesh, who were 361-4, were all out for 429 just after tea.
Mahmudullah, the Bangladesh captain, acknowledged that his side’s first innings was ultimately costly as they lost their final eight wickets for 87 runs, falling to 234 all out when Tamim (126) scored the first of the match’s six centuries.
Added Williamson: ‘‘It was a brilliant performance from us. In the first innings, I thought we adapted [well] to the surface when we thought it would offer a bit more to our seamers.