NZ do it easy… again

New Zealand have proved too good yet again for a hapless Bangladesh, who finished day two at 51-5 in their second innings, still requiring a further 199 runs to compel New Zealand to bat again.

The Black Caps resumed the day at 134-3, just nine runs behind the Bangladesh first innings. Stephen Fleming and Mathew Sinclair soon put the home team in a strong position, taking the score onto 214-4 (96 run partnership), before the latter fell to the bowling of Shahadat Hossain caught at the wicket for 47, when Jacob Oram (1), fell the same way, Bangladesh were fighting back with the Black Caps 216-5.

Bangladesh were still well in the game when they claimed Fleming for 87, caught from the bowling of Shakib Al Hasan, but wicket keeper Brendon McCullum 40 and Captain Daniel Vettori an unlucky but well made 94, seemingly put the game out of the visitors reach, with an 81 run seventh wicket partnership.

The New Zealand bowlers then found plenty of movement from the Basin Reserve pitch, with Kyle Mills and Chris Martin quickly reducing Bangladesh to 30-3, Before Iain O?Brian and Jacob Oram joined in the fun claiming a wicket each, and leaving the visitors in serious trouble at 51-5 at stumps, with only Habibul Bashar showing some real fight finishing on 21 not out.

They say there is no where to hide in Test cricket, and it would be a brave person that predicts Bangladesh will sneak this game into a fourth day.

Bangladesh 143
Mohammad Ashraful 35, Aftab Ahmed 25*
Chris Martin 5-65, Iain O’Brien 3-34

New Zealand 393
Daniel Vettori 94, Stephen Fleming 87
Shahadat Hossain 3-83

Bangladesh 113
Shakib Al Hasan 41*, Habibul Bashar 25
Kyle Mills 2-15