Kiwis clinch astonishing victory

– Kane Williamson scored his 15th century as New Zealand staged a remarkable fightback to win the first Test against Bangladesh by seven wickets in the final session in Wellington yesterday.

He described it has “a second-innings match” where Bangladesh’s first-innings 595/8 and New Zealand’s 539 in reply were in effect removed from the equation when the pressure went on.

On a dramatic final day, the Bangladesh second innings ended on 160/9 with captain and prolific scorer Mushfiqur Rahim rushed to hospital after being felled by a bouncer.

Wellington

He was later given the all-clear by doctors but took no further part in the game as Williamson and Ross Taylor launched a batting onslaught to reach their 217-run target with time to spare in the final session.

Williamson, who ended on 104 not out off 90 balls, said he knew New Zealand had a chance when they managed to get their first innings within 56 runs of Bangladesh.

“From then on it became a second innings match... when you go into the last innings of a Test anything can happen,” he said, admitting to some tense moments when New Zealand were 39/2 with Tom Latham departing for 16 and Jeet Raval for 13.

“Coming into the last two sessions and either team could win it. That’s what Test cricket is about.

“When you’re 30 for two, 200 can be quite a long way away in the last innings.”

Williamson defended the use of the bouncer as a legitimate weapon to pressure Bangladesh in their second innings but admitted Mushfiqur’s injury did not help the tourists.

“That certainly didn’t help their cause. It was a great (159) first innings and it was very unfortunate for him.” –