New Zealand vs Bangladesh, 2nd Test Day 2 preview: More rain looms over Basin Reserve

Rain prevented any play from taking place in the second Test between New Zealand and Bangladesh, at Basin Reserve, Wellington. Unfortunately, predictions for Day Two do not look very bright, which means Bangladesh may have a shot at drawing – hence not losing – their first Test on New Zealand soil. Of course, the Test needs to get underway for that.

New Zealand, on the other hand, will want cricket to resume at the earliest (they will start the days half an hour early on each of the remaining days).

They may benefit from the reduced follow-on margins (150 for three or four days, 100 for two, 75 for one), but that is about it. But for that they need to come out all guns blazing if they are asked to bat. Of course, both sides will want to bowl first under overcast conditions.

New Zealand went 1-0 up in the series with an innings-and-52-run win at Seddon Park, Hamilton. Kane Williamson put Bangladesh in, and Neil Wagner (5/47) and Tim Southee (3/76) bowled them out for 234. The only resistance came from Tamim Iqbal (126 in 128 balls).

The New Zealand openers – Jeet Raval (132) and Tom Latham (161) – crossed this score without being separated. Kane Williamson rubbed it in further with 200 not out; Henry Nicholls got a fifty; Colin de Grandhomme batted in cavalier fashion for his unbeaten 53-ball 76; and New Zealand declared on 715/6. It was the first time they crossed 700 in Test cricket.

Once again Tamim delivered, this time with 74, but Bangladesh were soon reduced to 126/4. Then came some resistance, from Soumya Sarkar (149) and Mahmudullah (146), who added 235 for the fifth wicket. But the rest capitulated, and Bangladesh were bowled out for 429, Trent Boult taking 5/123 and Southee 3/98.

New Zealand likely XI: Jeet Raval, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson (c), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling (wk), Colin de Grandhomme, Todd Astle, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult

Bangladesh likely XI: Tamim Iqbal, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mohammad Mithun, Mahmudullah, Liton Das (wk), Soumya Sarkar, Khaled Ahmed, Abu Jayed, Ebadat Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman.