Batsmen dominate as New Zealand take a 1-0 series lead against struggling Bangladesh attack

Seddon Park in Hamilton provided the backdrop for 1378 runs, accumulated in less than four days, as New Zealand took a commanding lead in the series with an innings and 52 run victory over Bangladesh. An inexperienced Bangladeshi bowling attack conceded 715 runs in New Zealand's only innings of the match and in return took only six wickets. Bangladesh's second innings batting was greatly improved, both Mahmudullah and Soumya Sarkar registering centuries, and demonstrated an increased level of skill and temperament as they tackled the short pitched bowling of Neil Wagner.

Bangladesh started the first day with their foot on the accelerator. Both openers, Tamim Iqbal and Shadman Islam, approached the New Zealand opening bowlers as though the ODI series was still in progress. Tamim reached his 50 within the first hour and looked as though he may go on to a hundred before the scheduled lunch break. A slowing of the scoring rate meant that this was not possible and Tamim went into lunch unbeaten on 86. Shortly after lunch Tamim reached his 100 from exactly 100 deliveries and when he was dismissed for 126 he had struck 21 fours and a six. The afternoon saw Bangladesh unable to capitalise on their bright start and Bangladesh were bowled out for 234 in 60 overs. Tamim's innings was the only one of note with Liton Das the second highest scorer with 29. For New Zealand the experienced duo of Trent Boult and Tim Southee struggled initially to get control of the run rate but were more effective as the innings went on. Neil Wagner was the star of the first day for New Zealand taking 5/47 as Bangladesh struggled with the short ball and the angle of delivery.

At the start of the year New Zealand had three of their top five named within the ICC Test team of 2018; Tom Latham, Kane Williamson and Henry Nicholls. This was due in part to the wonderful batting conditions encountered in New Zealand at venues such as Hamilton and Wellington, and in part due to the skill of the current incumbents of the batting positions. Jeet Raval, who has had a good start to his Test career, had previously not been able to bring up three figures. Here, along with Latham, they shared a partnership of 254 and both registered Test centuries as Bangladesh's bowlers toiled for 69 overs before claiming their first scalp.

The second day belonged in its entirety to New Zealand. After Raval had been dismissed on 132, Latham was dismissed for 161, the third Test in a row that he had passed the 150 mark. Williamson carried on in a steady way and received support from Nicholls who registered a 50 of his own. Only Ross Taylor, dismissed LBW for 4, failed to make a significant contribution. Nicholls was dismissed shortly before the close with the score on 449 and Wagner was sent in as a night watchman. New Zealand ended the day with a commanding 451/4 and Williamson was unbeaten on 93, closing in on a 20th Test century.

Resuming on the morning of the third day Williamson and Wagner set about building a big enough lead to allow New Zealand to declare. Wagner finished on 47, his Test best score, in an innings that included three sixes. BJ Watling joined Williamson and contributed 31 before Colin de Grandhomme came in and upped the run rate as New Zealand headed towards the declaration. Williamson reached his double hundred, and de Grandhomme ended on 75, when Williamson pulled the plug and declared with half the match still remaining. New Zealand finished on 715/6, the first time that they had passed 700 in Tests.

Once again Tamim passed 50. He was caught behind attempting to get out of the way of a short ball and not removing his bat from the line of the ball. At the end of the third day Bangladesh were 174/4. On the fourth day Bangladesh made the New Zealand bowlers toil. Soumya and Mahmudullah both brought up hundreds to take the total number of centurions in the match to six. They were particularly impressive in their defiance against the short pitched bowling of Wagner, Southee and Boult. Once their partnership of 235 had been broken, things became easier for the New Zealand bowlers and Bangladesh went from 361/5 to 429 all out.

Both sides travel to the Basin Reserve in Wellington on Friday with Bangladesh hoping to level the series. The history of the ground would suggest that the bowlers are likely to struggle once again and the batsmen will continue on their merry way.