Captain Daniel Vettori’s second half century of the match and his 82-run sixth-wicket stand with Daniel Flynn helped New Zealand come back for a three-wicket victory over Bangladesh in Tuesday’s final session of the first cricket test.
Vettori helped steer New Zealand to 281 for five at tea on the last day, needing another 36 runs to reach the 317 target. But he was bowled for 76 by Abdur Razzak after ushering the tourists to 298, 19 runs short of the win.
Bangladesh left-arm spinner Shakib al Hasan picked up another wicket, dismissing Flynn on 49, with the teams tied at 316. Flynn, whose knock came off 126 balls with 6 boundaries, was denied a maiden half century when he only needed a single to bring up the victory.
Jacob Oram (8) and Kyle Mills (1) were unbeaten at the finish when New Zealand reached 317 for seven.
Razzak took three wickets for 93 runs and Hasan got 2-82, giving him nine wickets for the match in an impressive bowling performance.
Vettori, who also scored 55 in the first innings and took nine wickets, was adjudged man of the match.
Resuming the fifth day at 145-2, Vettori and Aaron Redmond added 40 runs in the first session before Hasan dismissed Redmond for 79.
Redmond’s 237-ball innings included 10 boundaries.
Ross Taylor (9) was next to go when he was caught by substitute fielder Mahbubul Alam off a Murtaza delivery.
Brendon McCullum added just 2 runs before he was trapped lbw by Razzak shortly after lunch, with the visitors on 216-5.
After dominating the opening session, New Zealand fell behind as Bangladesh stuck to a slow-but-sure batting formula to recover to 245, then bowled the tourists out for 171 in reply. Hasan’s 7-36 in New Zealand’s first innings was a test record for Bangladesh, which has had only a solitary test victory since joining cricket’s elite.
Bangladesh built a 316-run lead after scoring 242 in its first innings but although the match went to the final session, New Zealand was in command during the last day.
Bangladesh has never won a test against New Zealand, losing five of their six previous matches by an innings. New Zealand won the preceding limited-overs series 2-1.
