New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori once again tormented Bangladesh with three wickets in one over to inject life into the rain-hit second Test yesterday.
With the first three days washed out, play finally began on the fourth morning and after declaring New Zealand’s first innings at 262-6, Vettori’s triple strike left Bangladesh in trouble at 13-3 in reply.
Opener Tamim Iqbal was unbeaten on eight and Mehrab Hossain had yet to open his account after the New Zealand skipper dismissed Zunaed Siddiqui (4), and Mohammad Ashraful and Rajin Saleh without scoring in his only over.
PHOTO: AFP
Already facing a near-impossible task to square the two-match series after New Zealand won the first match in Chittagong, Bangladesh’s sloppy batting leaves the home side with no realistic chance of a win after Vettori’s sporting declaration.
The home team need another 150 runs to avoid the follow-on.
In the New Zealand innings, Jesse Ryder missed his maiden century by nine runs and Brendon McCullum scored a fiery 66 to lift the tourists, who were themselves struggling at 49-3 after the home team opted to field at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium.
Ryder and McCullum helped the tourists recover from their shaky start with a solid 137-run fourth wicket stand.
The 24-year-old left-handed Ryder, playing only his second Test, looked on course for a brilliant hundred before he miscued a sweep off left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak in the extended second session.
Ryder, who managed one and 38 in the first Test, batted with authority and impressed with well-timed drives and cuts. He hit 12 boundaries in his 140-ball knock.
Ryder said he was happy with his efforts.
McCullum was also at his best, hitting eight boundaries and a six. He was caught off the bowling of left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan soon after tea.
Vettori, who was New Zealand’s hero in the first Test with two half-centuries and nine wickets, made 22 yesterday.
Earlier Mashrafe Mortaza trapped Aaron Redmond (2) leg-before in the third over of the innings before Mahbubul Alam bowled Jamie How (8) in the next over.
Bangladesh’s third seamer, Shahadat Hossain, removed Ross Taylor, who made 19.
The home side left out Naeem Islam from their line-up, including paceman Mahbubul Alam for his first Test, while New Zealand were forced to bring in Grant Elliott for Jacob Oram, who returned home because of a back problem.
■ STANFORD CUP
AP, ST. JOHN’S
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