What’s asked of me
Neil Wagner, right, takes one of his four wickets in Bangladesh’s first innings.
think about it too much. I’ve got a role to do for the team and for me it’s just to contribute to the team. Whatever is asked for me to do, I just do to the best of my ability.’’
That was compromised early on when he dived to field a firm drive and emerged bleeding, the webbing split on his middle finger.
It required surgical glue and a hefty bandage to hold it together, and at least wasn’t on his bowling hand.
The Black Caps picked five pace bowlers on a Basin greentop and Wagner was the last of them to get a gallop, summoned by captain Kane Williamson at 104-1 after 30 overs.
Immediately there were chances as the Bangladeshi batsmen took him on.
BANGLADESH First Innings
T Iqbal c Southee b Wagner ...................................... 74 S Anik c Taylor b de Grandhomme ........................ 27 M Haque c Watling b Wagner .................................... 15 M Mithun c Watling b Wagner .................................... 3 S Sarkar c Watling b Henry ........................................ 20 Mahmudullah c de Grandhomme b Wagner .... 13 L Das c Williamson b Southee .................................. 33 T Islam lbw Boult ................................................................ 8 M Rahman b Boult ............................................................ 0 A Jayed b Boult ................................................................... 4 E Hossain not out .............................................................. 0 Extras (4b, 7lb, 2wd, 1nb) .............................................. 14 Total ...................................................................................... 211 Fall: 75, 127, 134, 152, 168, 206, 206, 207, 211 Bowling: T Boult 11-3-38-3, T Southee 15-2-52-1, C de Grandhomme 7-0-15-1, M Henry 15-0-67-1, N Wagner 13-4-28-4.
NEW ZEALAND First innings
J Raval c Sarkar b Jayed ................................................. 3 T Latham c Das b Jayed ................................................. 4 K Williamson not out ..................................................... 10 L Taylor not out ................................................................. 19 Extras (2lb) ............................................................................ 2 Total (for 2 wickets, 11.4 overs) ................................ 38 Fall: 5, 8
Bowling: A Jayed 6-2-18-2, E Hossain 5.4-2-18-0
‘‘It opens up a lot of opportunities to go for runs as well. If they do play well they can get away.
‘‘You don’t want to leak runs at the same time and you’ve got to be really patient and consistent and ask tough questions. Creating that doubt in their footwork and making them think about it, if they start ducking or swaying out of it I feel like I have a chance."
After 12 wickets fell on day one and with 196 overs left in the abbreviated test, a result remains very much on.