Bangas and smashed
It’s official: New Zealand will remain the world’s No 2 test side at season’s end after notching their fifth successive series victory.
The Black Caps – missing injured pair Kane Williamson (shoulder/pectoral) and BJ Watling (hamstring) – skittled Bangladesh for 209 to complete an innings and 12 run win in the second test at the Basin Reserve in Wellington yesterday.
Neil Wagner bounded in and bounced his way to 5-45 to give him nine wickets for the match, while Trent Boult took 4-52 as they wrapped it up just before lunch on the fifth day.
It sealed a series victory with a game to spare – Saturday’s third test in Christchurch – and ensured themselves a US$500,000 (NZ$730,000) International Cricket Council payout next month as the world’s secondranked test side behind India.
Never before have New Zealand won five straight test series, a run that began with the West Indies in December, 2017.
This was a fast-moving test that lasted just 201.5 overs, after the first two days were lost to rain and a juicy, green, bouncy pitch was presented.
Bangladesh captain Mahmudullah top scored with 67 before he was Wagner’s fourth victim.
Bangladesh have continued their horror run in New Zealand, having lost all 26 matches they’ve played in this country in all formats.
New Zealand dismissed Bangladesh for 211 when play finally began on Sunday, then racked up 432-6 declared at better than five an over with Ross Taylor scoring 200, his third test double century.
Taylor headed Wagner as man of the match, who was New Zealand’s fifth seamer called upon in the visitor’s innings
Williamson scored 74 in New Zealand’s innings then wasn’t seen on the field again, but has avoided any serious shoulder damage.
He was diagnosed with a grade one pectoral muscle tear after undergoing an MRI scan yesterday, and is in doubt for the third test.
‘‘Kane is obviously keen to play this final game, but we’ll look to take a safety-first approach, particularly with the World Cup on the horizon,’’ coach Gary Stead said.
Central Stags batsman Will Young will make his test debut in Christchurch if Williamson is ruled out. Stead confirmed Watling suffered a minor strain to his left hamstring in warmups yesterday morning.
‘‘We felt it was best he didn’t keep today to give him the best chance of being fit for the third test.’’
Northern Districts wicketkeeper Peter Bocock, one of two substitute fielders for New Zealand, took the gloves in Watling’s absence. Wellington’s Tom Blundell looms as Watling’s likely replacement if he is ruled out of the third test.