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New Zealand vs Bangladesh 2nd Test at Christchurch: Marks out of 10 for triumphant Blackcaps

A look at how the victorious New Zealand squad fared on the scale of 10 in the second Test against Bangladesh at Christchurch.

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New Zealand defeated Bangladesh all ends up © Getty Images
New Zealand defeated Bangladesh all ends up © Getty Images

Despite rain washing out one whole day of the Test, New Zealand slaughtered Bangladesh by 9 wickets, clinching the Test series 2-0. In fact, the hosts mortified the Bangladesh Tigers by defeating them in all 8 games of this tour. Chasing 109, the hosts got off to a good start and the decision to push Colin de Grandhomme at No. 3 proved a masterstroke. His 15-ball cameo ensured a quick finish to the game, a memorable victory which New Zealand achieved in three days of play courtesy of their pacers, who gave no quarter to the visitors. Let’s see how the Kiwis fared in the second Test:

Jeet Raval (6/10): Scores of 16 and 33

Raval never really looked comfortable batting at Christchurch. He remained in double minds over attacking and defending. He was dropped early on at just 2 runs only to get 14 more. In the first innings, Raval struggled to judge the short deliveries and got impatient but batted well in the second. Had to score runs briskly to complete the victory on day Four.

Tom Latham ended the series on a perfect high © Getty Images
Tom Latham ended the series on a perfect high © Getty Images

Tom Latham (8/10): Scores of 68 and 41*

Probably the best batsman in the second Test, Latham remained the only batsman who carried his form from the first game into the second He tended to absorb the most of the pressure, which eased those men who batted around him. Latham deserved a century in the first innings, to say the least, but he remains guilty of throwing away his wicket.  In the second innings, an unbeaten 41 marked the end of a successful series.

Live Cricket Scorecard: Bangladesh vs New Zealand, 2nd Test Christchurch

Kane Williamson (7/10): Score of 2

Williamson was dismissed off an unplayable delivery from Kamrul Islam but other than this, he was active as the skipper. He kept on changing bowlers after a period of time never to let the bowlers wear out or batsmen settle down. Williamson used his bowlers well according to the situation and made sure of not letting the pressure ease on the visitors. Had four lethal pacers under in his command and he knew when who was to be brought on from which end.

Ross Taylor (7/10): Score of 77

He fell 23 runs short of joining New Zealand’s greatest batsman Martin Crowe of scoring 17 Test centuries. Taylor looked in great touch and utilised all his experience when he came out to bat. He was however beaten by flight to get out. Taylor was a little slouchy with his fielding and dropped a catch in the slips of Nurul Hasan which went straight to him at the waist height.

After all that hard work Henry Nicholls still away from his Test ton © Getty Images
After all that hard work Henry Nicholls still away from his Test ton © Getty Images

Henry Nicholls (9/10): Score of 98

He played the best innings of 98 under pressure along with tail-enders to add 87 runs. But Nicholls missed his maiden Test century. He was playing sensible cricket until the time he reached his 90s and that is where he lost his composure. Had it not been his innings of 98, New Zealand would not have dominated Day Four.

Mitchell Santner (5/10): Score of 29

He did not bowl a single over since the Kiwi pacers dominated throughout the game. But he batted reasonably along with Nicholls to carry on the Kiwi march. He often got shelled going on the backfoot against Shakib Al Hasan and that is why he was trapped in his pads.

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BJ Watling (4/10): Score of 1

He failed to stand for his team when it was needed the most. Had the chance to make his name but never looked like settling in. Watling tried to be audacious against Shakib who was bowling with a stringent line and length. He probably should have held back his nerves to let the pressure ease into him, otherwise did a fair enough job with gloves to grab 6 catches in total from both innings.

Colin de Grandhomme (5/10): Scores 0 and 33*

Off the four pacers that the New Zealand squad has, de Grandhomme was the least effective. He pitched in short and wide asking to be hit. In the first innings, he never looked imposing himself on the Bangladesh batsmen despite they being under pressure and hence was taken off the attack after some time. He did make a good come back later bowling wicket-to-wicket. He varied his pace and also the kind of deliveries with bouncers and yorkers in plenty. His 15-ball stint helped the hosts wind up the game within Day Four, which was studded with 4 sixes. He is good when gets going and impossible to be kept in check.

Tim Southee took 8 out of 20 wickets of Bangladesh © Getty Images
Tim Southee took 8 out of 20 wickets of Bangladesh © Getty Images

Tim Southee (9.5/10): Bowling figures 5 for 94 and 3 for 48; Score of 17

Southee took 8 wickets in this Test and was rightly adjudged the Man of the Match. His plan of tormenting the Bangladesh batsmen with short deliveries worked perfectly. Moreover, he can let the ball come in and out to both right and left-handed batsmen and in such conditions where there is enough bounce for him, he is lethal and unplayable. This bodes well for the Kiwis ahead of their series against South Africa at home next month.

 Trent Boult (8/10): Bowling figures 4 for 87 and 3 for 52; Score of 7*

Trent Boult has the ability to bowl unplayable yorkers. He has the natural ability to move the ball into the right-handed batsmen and that is what he did against Bangladesh. He bowled in short and brought the ball back into the right-handers forcing them to play. He was not required to vary his pace and remained extremely tough to deal with for the visitors.

Neil Wagner (8/10): Bowling figures 1 for 44 and 3 for 44; Score of 26

Wagner was a little off-beat in the first innings, straying down both sides giving the opposition batsmen to free up their arms. He did get his line rectified but could not get any wicket except for the one. He made a good comeback in the second innings and supported his other two pace partners very well. He mopped up the Bangladesh tail-enders which also included breaking the stubborn Taskin Ahmed and Kamrul Islam partnership.

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