New Zealand vs Bangladesh, 1st Test, Day 4 preview: Hosts close in on 1-0 lead

New Zealand are 6 wickets away from winning the first Test of the three-match series against Bangladesh, at Seddon Park, Hamilton. At stumps on Day Three, Bangladesh are 174/4, still 307 away from making New Zealand bat again.

At the crease are Soumya Sarkar (39*) and captain Mahmudullah (15*), while Liton Das and Mehidy Hasan Miraz are the only other batsmen of note. Chances are that New Zealand will wrap things up inside the first session to earn an extended break.

With a lead of 217, New Zealand were already on top when play resumed today. They piled more misery on Bangladesh today, adding another 264 to that in just 45 overs.

Night-watchman Neil Wagner batted merrily in the first hour. He rushed to 47, his highest score, off just 35 balls, completely outscoring his captain Kane Williamson in a partnership of 60. He hit Khaled Ahmed for three sixes over mid-wicket. Then he became debutant Ebadat Hossain’s first Test wicket when he edged a square cut behind him.

Meanwhile, Williamson had eased his way to his hundred, off just 143 balls. He was joined by BJ Watling (35), and the pair added 96 in no time before Mehidy had Watling caught behind.

By then Williamson had become the fastest New Zealand batsman (and joint 16th-fastest overall) to reach 6,000 runs in Test cricket. Williamson took 126 innings to reach there, 19 fewer than Ross Taylor’s 145.

Colin de Grandhomme lifted the run rate even more, smashing five sixes including two humongous ones over mid-wicket. Williamson declared as soon as he brought up his 200, off 257 balls. De Grandhomme remained unbeaten on a 53-ball 76.

The Bangladesh openers began well, counterattacking their way to add 88 for the opening stand. Then Shadman Islam top-edged a hook off Neil Wagner to Trent Boult at deep fine-leg.

Mominul Islam took his chances before edging a slash off Boult to the slips. Mohammad Mithun pushed half-heartedly off Boult, once again to the slips.

And finally, Tamim Iqbal fell to a Tim Southee bouncer. Tamim had ducked but the ball hit his raised bat and went to Watling. Tamim’s innings, 126 in 128 balls and 74 in 86, were the only performances of note by Bangladesh.

Brief scores:

Bangladesh 234 (Tamim Iqbal 126; Tim Southee 3/76, Neil Wagner 5/47) and 174/4 (Tamim Iqbal 74; Trent Boult 2/53) trail New Zealand 715/6 decl. (Jeet Raval 132, Tom Latham 161, Kane Williamson 200*, Henry Nicholls 53, Colin de Grandhomme 76*; Soumya Sarkar 2/68) by 307 runs.