Cricket news roundup – 12th March 2019: New Zealand brush aside Bangladesh to make it 2-0

New Zealand were utterly dominant against Bangladesh, winning the second Test midway through the final day, by an innings and 12 runs. However, Kane Williamson and BJ Watling may sit out of the final Test with injuries.

Elsewhere, Afghanistan’s white-ball tour of Zimbabwe has been called off, and Sri Lanka’s Kusal Perera will miss the remainder of the ODIs in South Africa.  

New Zealand make it 2-0

Despite the first two days of the Wellington Test being washed out, New Zealand secured an innings-and-12-run victory over Bangladesh a little way into the second session on the final morning.

Neil Wagner was once again Bangladesh’s tormentor, returning 5/45, and was supported by Trent Boult, who claimed 4/52. The one remaining wicket was picked up by Matt Henry.

Bangladesh resumed the final morning at 80/3, and lost Soumya Sarkar (28) shortly into the day. Mohammad Mithun and Mahmudullah attempted to steady things and put on a 40-run stand for the fifth wicket, but once the stand was broken by Wagner – Mithun was sent back for a 105-ball 47 – Bangladesh crumbled.

Mahmudullah hung around to score a 69-ball 67, but with the rest of the line-up mostly falling for single-digit scores, the visitors had no hope.

Kane Williamson a doubt for the final Test

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson injured his shoulder on the third day of the second Test, and could be ruled out of the final Test in Christchurch.

Williamson sustained a grade one tear to the pectoral minor muscle on his left shoulder, and didn’t take the field on the final morning. Tim Southee captained New Zealand in his stead.

Williamson injured his shoulder after falling awkwardly while fielding at gully on Sunday, and was taken to the hospital for scans after experiencing discomfort while batting.

BJ Watling is another injury concern for the home side. The wicketkeeper sustained a hamstring injury while warming up on the fifth morning and was sidelined, with Peter Bocock taking the gloves.

Both players will be assessed closer to the final Test.

Zimbabwe-Afghanistan series called off

Afghanistan’s white-ball tour of Zimbabwe next month has been called off after the two boards failed to agree on broadcasting matters.

The teams were supposed to play 5 ODIs, which were to help serve Afghanistan’s preparations for the World Cup 2019. However, while both boards agreed to share costs, they couldn’t find common ground when it came to broadcasting the matches.

Afghanistan wanted the matches to be telecast on television, but the costs inherent in that meant Zimbabwe preferred to stream the matches.

Afghanistan now have just a few ODIs – against Scotland, Ireland, Pakistan and England – before they begin their World Cup campaign.

Kusal Perera sidelined for rest of tour

Kusal Perera will play no further part in the ODI leg of Sri Lanka’s tour of South Africa after sustaining a left hamstring injury during the rain-affected third ODI loss to the home side.

Perera didn’t bat during Sri Lanka’s chase in that match, and confirmation arrived a day later that the injury would rule him out of the final 2 ODIs.

Sri Lanka haven’t named a replacement, though, and have decided to wait and see if Perera can recover in time for the 3-match T20I series, the squad for which hasn’t been announced yet.

Sri Lanka have lost all three ODIs so far. The final two ODIs will be played in Port Elizabeth and Cape Town.

Root to face Broad in opening round of County Championship 2019

Joe Root and Stuart Broad will face each other in the first round of the 2019 County Championship as Nottinghamshire host Yorkshire in Division One.

Root decided against resting ahead of the World Cup despite playing the entirety of the West Indies tour, and will play in the first two rounds of the competition. His second match will be against Hampshire the Ageas Bowl.

The One-Day Cup starts after the first two rounds, but a decision is yet to be made regarding Root’s participation in those matches, with the World Cup fast approaching.

Adil Rashid will miss the first two rounds of the County Championship with a shoulder injury, but Eoin Morgan is set to turn out for Middlesex alongside Dawid Malan.