Bangladesh 66-3 at stumps on day 2, 1st test vs. New Zealand
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand captured three wickets before stumps on the fourth day of the first cricket test against Bangladesh Sunday to send the tourists into the final day with a lead of 122 and seven second innings wickets in hand.
After making all the running in the match from the opening day, Bangladesh ended the fourth day at 66-3 after establishing a 56-run lead on the first innings.
The tourists also lost opener Imrul Kayes, who retired hurt on 24 and was carried from the stadium on a stretcher after suffering an injury while running between wickets. The injury blighted a day in which Kayes had taken five catches as a stand-in for his injured captain Mushfiqur Rahim — a record for a substitute wicketkeeper.
The last hour of play on Sunday undermined some of the earlier work that Bangladesh had done to edge ahead of New Zealand.
It first reached 595-8 in its first innings — its second-highest total in test matches and its highest in tests outside Bangladesh — then with a novice attack it dismissed New Zealand for 539 to gain a small first innings lead on a pitch at the Basin Reserve which has shown no signs of deteriorating over four days.
Opener Tamim Iqbal was out for 24 in the 14th over, bowled by spinner Mitchell Santner, then Kayes suffered his injury and was assisted from the field by paramedics.
Mahmudullah suffered the misfortune of being caught down the leg side by wicketkeeper B.J. Watling from the bowling of Neil Wagner two overs before stumps then nightwatchman Mehedi Hasan (1) threw his wicket away when he was run out on the last ball of the day.
Mominul Haque was left on 10 not out with and with the heroes of the first innings, Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim, still to bat, a draw is still looming as the most likely result in the first of the two match series.
Earlier on Sunday, New Zealand opener Tom Latham made 177 — his highest test score — to guide New Zealand past the follow on mark of 395. Half centuries by Henry Nicholls (53), Santner (73) and 49 by Watling helped New Zealand greatly reduce Bangladesh's first innings lead and keep the home side in the match.
Latham eclipsed his previous-best test score of 137 and posted the highest score by a New Zealand opening batsman at the Basin Reserve to lay the foundation for his team's reply. He batted for 463 minutes and shared signficant partnerships with Kane Williamson (53), Nicholls and Ross Taylor (40).
Santner enhanced his credentials as an allrounder with his highest test score.
Latham said it was still possible to get a result on the last day.
"Test cricket can do some funny things," Latham said. "They're 120 ahead with seven wickets in the shed but if we can get a couple of quick ones in the morning you never know."
Latham's century was his sixth in tests and further evidence of his development as a key batsman for New Zealand.
"It was nice to make a significant contribution and for us to have been backs against the wall after that first innings and then to come out 50 behind, then to get three quick wickets was pleasing," Latham said.
"The key when you chase big scores is not to lose wickets in clumps and we certainly didn't do that. We managed to build 50 partnerships for the first four partnerships and that allowed us to keep the momentum going and build those big partnerships."
