New Zealand hopes boosted after Bangladesh wobble in Wellington
Sunday 15 January 2017 14:07, UK
Bangladesh suffered a mini-collapse at the start of their second innings to give New Zealand an outside chance of winning on the final day of the first Test in Wellington.
The tourists lost Imrul Kayes to injury before Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudullah and nightwatchman Mehedi Hasan fell in the space of 16 runs and 30 balls as they slumped to 66-3 at the close of day four.
That gave them a lead of 122 at the Basin Reserve after New Zealand, boosted by a Test-best 177 from opener Tom Latham, were all out for 539.
New Zealand had started the day 303 runs in arrears, but Latham's efforts, plus half-centuries for Henry Nicholls (53) and Mitchell Santner (73), ensured they got close to Bangladesh's score, conceding a first-innings lead of 56.
Bangladesh's openers were untroubled in steering their side to 46-0, but Kayes retired hurt on 24, due to an apparent hip injury, and Tamim departed in the next over for 25 after being bowled by Mitchell Santner.
Mahmudullah was strangled down the leg side by a shorter ball from Neil Wagner before a mix-up between Mominul Haque and Mehedi off what turned out to be the final ball of the day saw the latter run out.
The Kiwis are now in the driving seat and will be pushing for an unlikely victory in the first of the two-Test series.
However, Bangladesh have Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim, who recorded the Tigers' highest Test partnership of all-time with a stand of 359 in the first innings, still to bat.
