Wagner: I do

Blood streaming from the split webbing on his right hand, Neil Wagner turned down the chance to get it stitched, glued it back together and resumed normal service.

Yes, he bounded in with his perfectly good left one and bounced the Bangladeshi batsmen again, aided by a springy Basin Reserve pitch yesterday.

And it was effective, again, as he bowled 13 overs on the trot and ended with 4-28 to cause the most damage in Bangladesh’s total of 211 in the second cricket test. New Zealand were 38-2 in reply at stumps with two days to play in Wellington.

‘‘I try to pitch my first over up, and I went for 10 runs,’’ Wagner said.

‘‘There wasn’t a lot of swing or sideways movement at that point in time and then you want to make the most of the bounce in the surface. It was quite steep. For me it was about trying to utilise that bounce and try to get nicks or a glove.’’

Which he did, twice in quick succession to remove Mominul Haque and Mohammad Mithun before lunch and swing it back New Zealand’s way. Both departed immediately after successful decision review system challenges.

Suitably unsettled, Bangladesh’s two top batsmen then gave it away. Tamim Iqbal (74) skied a half-hearted hook shot then captain Mahmudullah (13) steered a comfortable leg side catch.

As it did two years ago against the same opponents at the same ground, Wagner’s approach generates its share of opposition. He clanged the red Kookaburra against helmets and gloved fingers but there were no Bangladeshi injuries yesterday. And he vows he won’t be changing an approach that is within the rules.

‘‘I don’t really care about that [criticism], to be honest. I don’t