Lynn McConnell
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2nd Test: New Zealand v Bangladesh at Wellington, 26-30 Dec 2001 Lynn McConnell |
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Pre-game:
Bangladesh 1st innings: New Zealand 1st innings: |
It took only five overs after the tea break to wrap up another disappointing effort by the tourists, even in conditions that were not especially conducive for the home bowlers.
Mashrafi bin-Murtaza provided some light relief in the eight balls he faced before being run out for eight. He climbed into a big six over mid wicket from Daniel Vettori's bowling. He attempted the shot again two balls later, but miscued and it sailed high only to create confusion among prospective catchers, who still had some work to do, but the delay resulted in the ball falling into free space.
The end was not too long coming, although captain Kahled Mashud did provide Vettori with a very difficult return chance, Vettori apparently deciding retention of his fingers was the wiser option than the near point blank effort to take the catch.
Earlier, Monjurul Islam was well beaten by Vettori and bowled for a duck.
Chris Cairns ended with three for 24, Chris Drum two for 26, Vettori two for 57 and Shane Bone one for 21.
Despite all the best intentions of the top order to try and minimise the effect of the bowling attack, the concentration of the visitors was never strong enough, even in conditions that were not especially favourable for the faster bowlers.
The loss of three wickets for 10 runs just before the tea break meant the Bangladeshis went to tea at 118/8 and on the verge of another cheap dismissal.
They have faced more overs, but only just, than in either innings of the first Test with 59 bowled so far today.
Chris Drum came into his own in only his second Test today with his accuracy bringing the reward of two for 26 off 11 overs.
Chris Cairns took the first wicket to fall after the lunch break and has three wickets for 24 from his 13 overs.
Shane Bond also picked up a wicket, the result of a superb catch taken by Lou Vincent fielding in the gully. He launched himself to his right in a spectacular dive to get his hands beneath the ball just before it hit the grass. It was a magnificent effort, and typical of Vincent's effort in the field throughout the day.
He also played a hand in the run out of Sanwar Hossain when he and Khaled Mahmud found themselves standing at the same end of the pitch. Vincent swooped onto the ball and lobbed it back to bowler Daniel Vettori waiting by the stumps to lift the bails for the run out.
Vincent has completed three catches so far in the innings.
Conditions are perfect in the late afternoon with the wind having dropped away, the sun has broken through and with the ground's trademark Pohutukawa trees in full bloom it is a colourful scene being enjoyed by a crowd of 6097.
At the afternoon drinks break, Bangladesh were 89/4 with Animul Islam 41 not out and Sanwar Hossain five not out.
Going to lunch at 60/3 after a torrid morning attempting to keep out the home attack who had been given first use of the pitch by skipper Stephen Fleming when he won the toss, Bangladesh continued the struggle after the break with only a swat for four runs, off spin bowler Daniel Vettori, by Aminul Islam relieving the tedium of singles and twos being taken by the batsmen.
Chris Cairns proved the breakthrough merchant again when bowling a fine over to Mohammed Ashraful who was beaten several times as Cairns probed for an opening or an edge.
He successfully held Cairns out, but with six balls to think about it while Vettori bowled, he managed to lose his concentration and edged a ball to Fleming's left at first slip where the skipper held his 95th Test catch.
Ashraful scored 11 off 49 balls and Bangladesh were 81/4.
Sanwar Hossain had a life at five from fast bowler Shane Bond's bowling when he was dropped by Vettori in the gully.
Then Animul survived a huge appeal for leg before wicket from Bond. It was an inswinging yorker but looked to hit him on the back pad adjacent to the middle stump. However, Parker signalled it was going down the leg side.
Aminul Islam was 23 not out and Mohammed Ashraful was six not out with 28 overs completed in the first session.
Chris Cairns and Daniel Vettori picked up the wickets.
Cairns took two in his second over, the third of the game.
Vettori's accuracy and control wore down Mohammed Al-Sahariar to help New Zealand claim its third Bangladesh wicket in the second National Bank Test, at Wellingtonl's Basin Reserve today.
Al Sahariar laboured for 99 minutes, battling the New Zealand pace attack while remembering all the virtues of leaving balls that don't need to be played.
He didn't get too carried away attempting to hit loose deliveries, and there were very few of those, but with Vettori's introduction there was a chance for respite. He lashed out with one boundary through mid-wicket.
However, temptation finally got the better of him and from the 65th ball he faced he attempted to loft Vettori back over his head. He miscued and Shane Bond was well placed to take an easy catch at mid-off.
Vettori was brought in as early as the 15th over and while the turn was slow, he soon had the brakes even more tightly clamped on the batsmen's options.
They attempted to work him around, especially around the corner down the leg-side, although Al Sahariar did hit out on one occasion to take four runs from a lofted shot to mid-wicket.
Aminul Islam had a lucky break when on 16. He had a ball from Bond rising on him on the line of leg stump. He played down off his chest. The ball bounced and just missed bouncing into the leg stump, as Aminul was hurriedly trying to locate the ball.
Bond bowling downwind did not find conditions especially comfortable and while several times forcing false shots from the batsmen he ended his five over second spell with none for 12.
He took two wickets in his second over as Bangladesh slumped to six for two wickets.
Javed Omar was out when attempting to hit a rising leg cutter over the gully area. However, Lou Vincent pulled down a sharp catch.
Habibul Bashar came in and took two from the first ball he faced from Cairns, and then glanced a ball to fine leg, only to see Shane Bond misfield the ball and knock it over the boundary.
Then off the last ball, he succumbed to the slips cordon where Mathew Sinclair took the chance at second slip.
The Bangladesh batsmen were making a clear effort to pick and choose the balls they played but Cairns was bowling such a good line that there was little chance to score from him.
He finished his first spell of six overs with two for 13, three of them coming from a wide and two no balls.
Shane Bond opened into the wind, and despite the strength of the breeze still managed to get a ball through at 140km/h.
He bowled only three overs for one run before making way for Chris Drum, allowing Bond the chance to freshen up before taking over from Cairns at the northern end of the ground.
It was painful work as the batsmen battled for survival through the first hour, but they did their job and when the drinks break was taken, Bangladesh had reached 27/2 with Mohammed Al-Sahariar six not out and Aminul Islam 10 not out.
Play will start on time in Wellington with fine conditions, although cloudy and with a northerly wind blowing down the ground.
The pitch has some green in it but due to the poor weather which has plagued the New Zealand summer this year, it will be slower than the usual pitch at the Basin Reserve.
However, it is not expected to be as slow as the pitch which failed to produce a result in the same game last summer.
Matthew Horne plays his first Test since the Boxing Day Test last year. He suffered a virus after that and was not considered for the home series against Pakistan.
In the meantime, Matthew Bell and Mark Richardson developed a partnership that was among the best New Zealand has had in recent seasons.
Also returning to the New Zealand side is pace bowler Chris Drum, who hasn't appeared since dislocating his shoulder last year in the second Test against Pakistan. He replaces Chris Martin, who will be released to play for Canterbury in its match against Central Districts, starting on Friday.
The umpires for the game are: Brent Bowden (New Zealand) and Daryl Harper (Australia).
The match referee is Barry Jarman (Australia).
The teams are:
New Zealand:Stephen Fleming (captain), Matthew Horne, Mark Richardson, Lou Vincent, Mathew Sinclair, Craig McMillan, Chris Cairns, Adam Parore, Daniel Vettori, Shane Bond, Chris Drum, Chris Martin (12th man).
Bangladesh: Khaled Mashud (captain), Al Sahariar, Aminul Islam, Habibul Bashar, Javed Omar, Khaled Mahmud, Manjural Islam, Mashrafe Mortaza, Mohammad Ashraful, Hasibul Hossain, Sanwar Hossain, Mohammed Sharif (12th man).
© CricInfo
Date-stamped : 27 Dec2001 - 02:33