Recent Match Report – New Zealand vs Bangladesh 2nd Test 2021/22

Hosts would have had another wicket had Daryl Mitchell hit the stumps with a direct hit, with Mominul Haque out of the frame

Tea: Bangladesh 126 and 152 for 5 (f/o) (Litton 23*, Nurul 6*, Wagner 3-58) trail New Zealand 521 for 6 dec by 243 runs

Litton Das was unbeaten on 23 alongside Nurul Hasan, who was not out on six, as the last recognised pair for Bangladesh. Litton struck Wagner for two beautiful pull shots in the last over before tea, but the visitors need more than just flashes of brilliance to keep this game going.

He fell on 37, edging Wagner to first slip where Ross Taylor completed his 163th catch in his last Test match. Yasir Ali, who top scored with 55 in the first innings, got off to a shaky start when Wagner got one to leap at his chest second ball. A diving Henry Nicholls at gully dropped him, even though Latham too was tracking the looping ball. Yasir was nearly run out off the same delivery when Taylor missed the stumps with a throw.

Wagner removed Yasir in similar fashion in his next over, the batter unable to jump out of the way of a lethal short ball. But this time, Latham took a simple catch jogging in from second slip.

Earlier, Bangladesh had battled to 74 for 2 in the 28 overs of the first session after being asked to follow on. They lost Shadman Islam and Najmul Hossain Shanto, but the top three showed some resistance for the first time in this game.

Shadman struck three fours in his 55-minute stay, but it was mostly leaving balls that helped him survive. But while Shadman fell trying to avoid a delivery towards the leg-side, well caught by wicketkeeper Tom Blundell off Kyle Jamieson, Naim went to lunch on 15 off 81 balls.

At the other end, Shanto’s resistance was slightly different, but meaningful as well, as he went after Wagner. In a short battle, Shanto struck Wagner for three fours and a six, all off short balls, but fell to the trap when he got caught at fine-leg, trying to pull another Wagner delivery from around the wicket.

This was five minutes before the lunch break, with Shanto gone for 29 off 36 balls. Mominul nearly got run out first ball in trying to avoid a pair, but Daryl Mitchell missed the stumps at the non-striker’s end. Earlier, Mitchell had missed a chance when Shanto edged between second and third slip.

Bangladesh were asked to follow on, on the third morning, after they were bowled out for 126 in the first innings in response to New Zealand’s 521 for 6 declared.