FAIRYTALE FINISH
The Black Caps gave departing great Ross Taylor the ultimate farewell, rebounding from their first test humiliation to tie the series against Bangladesh.
New Zealand continued their formidable record at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval yesterday, making it seven wins from nine tests, with one draw, – winning by an innings and 117 runs, late on day three.
After an embarrassing eightwicket loss in the first test at Mount Maunganui, this was some response from the world test champion Black Caps, tieing the two-match series at 1-1 and gaining 12 vital World Test Championship points.
It was a fitting performance from the side in the 112th and final test of Taylor’s 15-year career, which started all the way back in 2007 against South Africa.
The loudest roar of the day came when Taylor, who bowls offspin and has two test wickets, was given a bowl with Bangladesh nine down.
In a fairytale finish he got the final wicket with Ebadot Hossain skying one up to Tom Latham with his third delivery. Taylor will no doubt celebrate his final test outing with two of his great loves – a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken and a red wine.
While it was his last test match, equalling Daniel Vettori as New Zealand’s most capped test player in history, he will finish the summer with ODIs against Australia and the Netherlands.
Bangladesh showed greater application and fight in their second innings, dismissed for 278, highlighted by 102 from Liton Das.
Kyle Jamieson (4-82) and Neil Wagner (3-77) led the way with the ball in the second innings.
Nurul Hasan and Das frustrated the New Zealand attack, teaming up for a 101-run sixth wicket stand (Bangladesh’s first century stand of the match) until Daryl Mitchell struck, capturing just his second test wicket.
Das clobbered Trent Boult for three successive boundaries and 16 in an over, one of the few occasions in the match where Bangladesh were able to put pressure on the Kiwi bowlers.
The 27-year-old produced some elegant drives, scoring all around the ground, bringing up his second test century from 106 balls. His eye-catching innings ended shortly after, struck in front by Jamieson for 102.
New Zealand enforced the follow-on to start day three with Bangladesh staring at a 395-run deficit, having been rolled for 126 in the first innings.
On another warm Christchurch summer’s day, where temperatures hit 29 degC, Bangladesh finally showed some grit with the bat after a miserable first two days of the test, having won the toss on a greentop.
With the sun baking down and the Hagley wicket becoming better for batting, Bangladesh openers Shadman Islam and Mohammad Naim kept the quicks at bay for the first hour.
After punishing Bangladesh with 252 in the first innings, skipper Latham’s terrific test continued, pulling off a diving left hand ripper at second slip to remove opener Naim for 24.
Captain Mominul Haque impressed getting to 37, but when caught by Taylor at first slip giving Wagner his second of the innings, and overtaking Chris Martin (233 test wickets) into fifth on New Zealand’s all-time list, the hosts inched closer to victory.
New Zealand have three of their top five test wicket takers playing concurrently, Boult, Southee, and Wagner.