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Latham, Boult, Southee Push Bangladesh To The Brink

Saleque Sufi | banglanews24.com
Update: 2022-01-10 14:04:32
Latham, Boult, Southee Push Bangladesh To The Brink

Bangladesh VS New Zealand Test Series 
2nd Test
Played at Hagley Oval, Chrischurch (Jan 9-13 ,2022) 
Scorecard at Stumps on Day-2
New Zealand 1st Innings 521/6  (Tom Latham 252 , Devon Conway 109 , Tom Blundell 57* ,Will  Young 54, Shoriful Islam 2/79, Ebadat Hossain 2/143, Mominul 1/34 ) 
Bangladesh1st Innings 126 All Out (Yasir Ali Rabbi 55, Nurul Hasan Sohan 41, Trent Boult 5/43, Ttim Southee 3/28, Kyle Jamieson 2/32)
Bangladesh Trails by 395 Runs

A brilliant 252 by captain Tom Latham, 109 by Devon Conway and quick fire 57 not out by Tom Blundell led New Zealand piling up huge 521/6 declared. Then on the swing favored wicket two of the best exponents of the art Trent Boult (5/43), Tim Southee (3/28) humiliated, bruised and battered Bangladesh making them all out for 126. A huge defeat of Bangladesh is looming with the prospect of match finishing tomorrow. 

After losing the first test surprisingly to test cricket minnows Bangladesh the world test champions planned its strategy well and clinically executed it so far. Poor technique Bangladesh had no answer to brilliant swing attack of Southee and Boult as they were reduced to a miserable 27/5 in no time responding to home team’s 521/6 declared. However, a brave late middle order resistance by Yasir Ali (55) and Nurul Sohan (41) led them avoid the lowest total of 108 by Bangladesh against New Zealand. Scoring 126 all out just before stumps on day two the tourist would have to follow on tomorrow trailing by 395 runs. Boult taking 5/43 entered the exclusive of 300 test wickets in a brilliant fashion. 

The fate of the test was written at stumps on day one with home team finishing at 249/1. On the second morning flamboyant Devon Conway reaching 109 got himself run out. For a while, Bangladeshi bowlers getting the right length and line picked few quick wickets. The most prized of those was that of Ross Taylor appearing in his last innings at his twilight. Irresistible Tom Latham scoring his second double century got out at 252. Wicket keeper Tom Blundell produced a little cameo of 57. For Bangladesh it was a painful leather chase on a wicket still assisting swing bowling.

All knew that Black Caps were waiting to unleash their best bowling skills on their favored Hagley Oval surface. Shadman, Naim, Shanto, Mominul and Liton were swept away into Tasman Sea by the swing Tsunami of Boult and Southee. At 27/5 Bangladesh was staring at their lowest ever test innings against New Zealand. However, gutsy batting by Nurul Sohan and Yasir Ali saved them from total humiliation. Their 6th wicket partnership produced 60 before Southee returning had Sohan LBW for 41. It was too little too late. 

Bangladesh innings was wrapped up at 126. Yasir made well-played 55. Other than Sohan and Yasir 9 players could not even double figures. Boult taking his 9th five wickets haul also reached the enviable milestone of 300 test wickets. 

Tom Latham has now liberty either to enforce follow on or let great Ross Taylor have a last crack with his bat before signing off. The champion batsman made major contribution in elevating the black caps to their present position in world cricket. It will need a great character of Bangladeshi batsmen to extend the match into day four. 

Feel really sad for Bangladesh. They have no opportunity back at home for playing on such green top juicy surface against horses for the courses top bowling attack. Within a week Bangladesh has seen both sides of the moon. Hope Bangladeshi youngsters would learn lessons how to bowl and bat on such a wicket. But it will be up to BCB producing something near similar for domestic cricket. 

BDST: 1403 HRS, JAN 10, 2021
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