NZ up to fifth in world
It’s all over in four days as Caps grab eight from eight against Bangladesh Week off for
New Zealand completed eight victories from eight against Bangladesh last night, winning the second cricket test by nine wickets on the fourth day in Christchurch.
The 2-0 test victory took them to fifth in the world rankings and sat alongside 3-0 sweeps in the one-day and T20 internationals.
The hosts’ were dismissed for 354, a lead of 65, before dissecting the visitors’ for 173 in their second innings.
Respite came with a 51-run ninthwicket stand off 48 balls between Kamrul Islam Rabbi and Taskin Ahmed, prompting a quorum of Bangladeshi fans to launch into a jaunty chorus of “go Tigers, go”. The tourists deserved the support, after injuries forced them to dig into their talent base to find a competitive XI, but it could not prop up their vulnerability.
Until the rearguard, Trent Boult (three for 52), Tim Southee (3-48), Neil Wagner (3-44) and Colin de Grandhomme (1-27) worked in partnerships and bowled a variety of competitive lengths that exposed Bangladeshi hesitation.
Spinner Mitchell Santner never the bails. He was dismissed, as per law 29, because neither foot had yet been grounded behind the popping crease. It can’t be long before that law is rescinded.
Wagner formed a 57-run ninthwicket partnership with Henry Nicholls who fell two short of his maiden test century after dragging an edge on to the stumps trying to drive off spinner Mehedi Hasan Miraz.
Nicholls faced pressure and responsibility moving to his highest test score in his 17th innings. His average rose from 26.57 to 31.33, the first time it has breached 30 since his debut against Australia last summer.
He answered questions about his role at No 5, and cemented his position for the South African series.
Catching remained a problem throughout the test, as it did at Wellington, with 12 chances (Bangladesh 7, New Zealand 5) dropped.
Taskin Ahmed was the pick of the Bangladeshi bowlers. Should New Zealand feel shortchanged by the absence of David Warner from Australia’s Chappell-Hadlee squad? Tough.
Touring teams can pick whom they like. Hosts can’t demand certain players’ presence.
Warner is due a break and Australia have far larger fish to fry a few days after the short sojourn in New Zealand with a high-octane tour to India. A week off now will help the pugnacious lefthander.
If Warner goes to Cricket Australia’s selectors and pleads for a week off before chugging around India for several weeks, they’re not about to say: ‘‘Sorry mate, pack your bags, we need you at Seddon Park.’’
Had New Zealand retained the trophy in Australia in December, instead of putting up feeble performances in all three matches, it’s a fair chance CA would have