Ton of relief for Raval
What a relief for Jeet Raval. The ‘‘big one’’ has finally arrived.
The Black Caps opener wouldn’t admit it speaking to press after day two at Seddon Park, but scoring his maiden test century against Bangladesh in Hamilton yesterday was a huge monkey off his back.
In 16 previous tests and 27 innings, the Auckland left-hander has proved capable of seeing off the new ball without batting on to three figures as opening partner Tom Latham has done during his hugely prolific summer.
But the 30-year-old broke his duck in his 17th test after waiting more than two years, reaching the milestone with two superb pull shots before falling for 132 off 220 balls as the Black Caps established total control against Bangladesh in the first test.
Was it a huge weight off his shoulders?
‘‘Yes and no. It’s very nice to get over the line and get my hundred but, more importantly, it’s nice to get the big partnership with Tom,’’ Raval said.
‘‘It ultimately puts us in a good position at the end of the day and hopefully we can go on to win this game.’’
In reply to Bangladesh’s 234 all out, the Black Caps have motored ahead following Raval and Latham’s punishing stand.
Latham, too, scored another century with 161 off 248 balls as the hosts reached 451-4 at stumps, leading the troubled tourists by 217 runs, after the Black Caps openers plundered a staggering 254-run partnership for the first wicket.
Black Caps captain Kane Williamson was unbeaten on 93 after falling short of an unprecedented feat in New Zealand’s test history: three centurions in one day.
Raval, having hit 19 fours and one six, credited his hard work in the nets with Auckland for going on to ‘‘get a big one’’, while extending praise to Latham.
The Cantabrian passed 150 for the third time this summer after
❚ First century for Raval (132)
❚ New Zealand’s highest firstwicket partnership against Bangladesh
❚ Highest partnership between Raval and Latham
❚ Fifth time both New Zealand openers have scored centuries in same innings
❚ Third highest opening partnership for New Zealand
❚ Highest opening partnership for New Zealand since 1972
❚ First time since October 2003 both New Zealand openers have scored centuries in same innings going big twice in the 1-0 series win against Sri Lanka in December with 264 not out and 176.
Added Raval: ‘‘Tom has been doing brilliantly. He’s been doing it against Sri Lanka and it was a blueprint for how I wanted to go about my game.
‘‘Every time you take the shine off the ball, you want to go on and get some more, so it was nice to go on and get a big one.’’
Raval raised his bat just before lunch, bringing up 1000 tests runs in the process, in just reward for his efforts in seeing off Bangladesh’s best bowling efforts on day one.
He was eventually out in day two’s second session after slicing a top edge skywards from Bangladesh captain Mahmudullah’s first over.
Khaled Ahmed took the catch and Raval walked off disappointed, knowing he could have perhaps gone even bigger, but he walked away from Seddon Park yesterday a test centurion.
Statistics behind Jeet Raval and Tom Latham’s 254-run partnership (tests):
BANGLADESH
First innings 234 NEW ZEALAND
First innings
J Raval c Ahmed b Mahmudullah ... 132 T Latham c Mithun b Sarkar ............... 161 K Williamson not out ............................... 93 R Taylor lbw b Sarkar .................................. 4 H Nicholls b Hasan .................................... 53 N Wagner not out .......................................... 1 Extras (5lb 1nb 1w) ........................................ 7 Total (for 4 wkts, 118 overs) ................ 451 Fall: 254 (Raval), 333 (Latham), 349 (Taylor), 449 (Nicholls). Bowling: A Jayed 23-4-65-0, E Hossain 21-4-77-0, K Ahmed 22-6-84-0 (1nb), S Sarkar 19-1-57-2 (1w), M Hasan 31-2-149-1, M Mahmudullah 1-0-3-1, M Haque 1-0-11-0.