A day at the cricket
NZ v Bangladesh Hagley Oval 1st day, 2nd test
Key moment
A Trent Boult delivery did not come on as much as Soumya Sarkar expected. He looped a drive to cover where Colin de Grandhomme recalibrated his position to grab the catch millimetres from the turf. Ended the 127- run third- wicket stand. Soumya pulled Colin de Grandhomme in front of square leg to post the team’s hundred and move to 47. It was the shot of a test veteran, not a No 6 or No 7 recalled for his fourth test as a makeshift opener.
Best ball
Neil Wagner drew Nurul Hasan into a stroke with a short- ofa- length delivery angled across, but Ross Taylor spilled the third slip catch of the day at a comfortable height. Wagner did everything asked of him, but was let down by the cordon. Best fielding Soumya drove Southee straight. Kane Williamson raced across from mid- off to tag the ball and then chased it within a metre of the boundary. The batsmen ran three, so only one run was saved, but it demonstrated his intent and commitment.
Quirk of the day
was interrupted as Tim Southee ran in to bowl during the fourth over. The image was captured in the television slow- mo as both parties refused to retreat. The bumble bee won on points as Southee aborted his run- up.
Stats all
44 ‘ c Watling b Southee’ wicketkeeper- bowler dismissals overtook ‘ c Smith b Hadlee’ as the most prolific for New Zealand. Watling has an additional two catches off Southee as a fieldsman.
Tweet as
@ Sportsfreakconz It’s those horror 15 minute periods that are killing Bangladesh. So good for the rest of the time.
Test- o- meter