WELLINGTON: New Zealand bowled out Bangladesh for 160 after lunch and raced to victory in Wellington Test that broke a record that has stood for 122 years.
The home side achieved the milestone with the help of captain Kane Williamson’s undefeated century knock.
The change in fortunes in the match was set up by feisty New Zealand bowling which saw the Bangladesh second innings close at 160-9 with captain Mushfiqur Rahim in hospital for precautionary x-rays after being felled by a bouncer.
It was a disappointing follow up by Bangladesh to their imposing first knock of 595-8 declared and left New Zealand a comfortable run chase on a pleasant Wellington afternoon.
It will be the highest score in the first innings to lose a Test, beating Australia’s 586 against England in the 1894-95 series.
Bangladesh resumed the day at 66 for three and after losing the early wickets of key batsmen Shakib Al Hasan and Mominul Haque to be 96 for five their focus switched to prolonging the innings as long as possible.
Mushfiqur and Sabbir Rahman dug in to grind out 18 runs in 16 overs before a Tim Southee bouncer left Mushfiqur sprawled on the pitch.
There were anxious moments as he was attended to by medical staff from both sides until the ambulance arrived in the middle to take him to hospital.
A team spokesman later said Mushfiqur had been x-rayed and given the all-clear.
It had been a torrid Test for Mushfiqur, the first choice wicketkeeper, who could not field in the New Zealand first innings because of injuries to his hands sustained in his first innings knock of 159.
Imrul Kayes filled in as gloveman but he too ended up in hospital when he damaged his hip when diving for a run when opening the Bangladesh second innings.
He was discharged in time to hobble to the crease when Bangladesh were seven down and although he was unable to run between the wickets he clouted three boundaries to be 36 not out when the innings ended.
Sabbir Rahman, who top scored for Bangladesh in their second innings with 50, has taken the gloves as the third-string wicketkeeper.
New Zealand, set 217 to win in 57 overs, absolutely raced to victory.
Kane Williamson reached a hundred off only 89 balls, the fourth-fastest in the fourth-innings in all Tests.
New Zealand’s overall run-rate – 5.47 – was the third-highest in the fourth innings as Williamson, with his 15th century, and Ross Taylor, with his 24th fifty, put on their eighth hundred partnership and ensured the fans who packed the Basin Reserve.
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