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Tuesday, 17 January 2017 00:39 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
New Zealand’s captain Kane Williamson (L) celebrates 100 runs with teammate Henry Nicholls during day five of the first international Test cricket match between New Zealand and Bangladesh at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on January 16, 2017 - AFP.
Wellington (Reuters): Kane Williamson seized New Zealand’s run chase by the scruff of the neck to lead his side to an improbable seven-wicket victory against Bangladesh on the final day of the first test at the Basin Reserve on Monday.
The New Zealand skipper scored 104 not out, reaching his century from 89 balls, and combined with Ross Taylor (60) in a 163-run partnership as the hosts reached 217 for three with 17.2 overs remaining in the match.
Henry Nicholls was on four when Williamson hit the winning run, a single out to deep mid-wicket.
“Nice (to get the century),” Williamson said. “When you’re chasing a total you want to be positive and ... the partnership with Ross gave us a bit of momentum and relaxed the dressing room a little bit.
“A day five wicket, chasing anything can be tough, but to chase the (217) and do it well as a batting unit was all the more pleasing.”
The joy of victory, however, was tempered by an incident earlier in the day when Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim suffered a sickening blow to the head from a Tim Southee bouncer and was taken to hospital by ambulance.
Mushfiqur, who scored 159 in the first innings, had been battling to save his side after they had slumped to 96-5 having taken a 56-run lead into their second innings.He did not resume his innings, though returned to the ground after precautionary checks at Wellington Hospital.
“I am feeling much better. It could have been much worse,” Mushfiqur said. “There is still a bit of pain there but hopefully I will get through.”
His side eventually made 160, leaving New Zealand a victory target of 217 in 58 overs.
Bangladesh had scored 595-8 declared in their first innings and looked to be in charge of the game from early on the second day.
A draw, however, had been the most likely result until late on the fourth day when the hosts, who replied with 539, took three late wickets to give themselves a sniff of the unlikely victory.
They capitalised early on the fifth day, dismissing first innings double centurion Shakib Al Hasan for a five-ball duck.
Once Shakib fell, the onus rested with Mushfiqur and Sabbir Rahman to bat out the rest of the day and stave off a potential morale-sapping defeat.
Their resistance, however, effectively ended when Mushfiqur was taken to hospital.
“There is disappointment,” Mushfiqur added. “We put in a good show for the first two, two-and-a-half days.”
