Hello, good morning and welcome to CricketCountry’s live cricket blog and updates of the fourth day’s play in the opening Test between Bangladesh and New Zealand. This is Vishal Mehra, and I will be bringing you the live cricket scores and updates of the game, which is being played at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. In a match being thoroughly dominated by the batsmen from both the teams, New Zealand had their opener Tom Latham notching up his sixth Test hundred, taking the hosts to 292 for 3 at stumps on the third day. Latham was batting on 119 at stumps, accompanied by Henry Nicholls at 35.
Unless Bangladesh find a way through the remaining of the New Zealand batsmen in the first innings, it can be said that the first Test of this two-match series is heading for a tame draw. The Kiwis are still behind by a huge margin of 303 runs, and need another 103 runs to avoid follow-on, in case if there is a batting collapse. However, that is unlikely since the wicket has so far assisted batsmen, and Bangladeshi spinners have remained totally ineffective in their effort so far. Of the three batsmen dismissed, two have been grabbed by Kamrul Islam Rabbi and one went in Taskin Ahmed’s account.
Live Cricket Scorecard: Bangladesh vs New Zealand, 1st Test Wellington
Earlier on the third day, Bangladesh finally declared their innings at a mammoth 595 for 8. Shakib Al Hasan top scored with a record 217, whereas Mushfiqur Rahman made a brilliant 159 as the two Bangladeshi batsmen defied the Kiwi bowlers. Shakib and Mushfiqur added 359 runs for the fifth wicket, which is now the fifth highest ever stand in the history of Test cricket. Bangladesh’s total of 595 for 8 declared was their second highest in Test cricket.
In their reply, New Zealand were expected to make a strong start, and they did exactly that. However, the opening pair did not last very long, as after an hour into their innings, the Kiwis lost opener Jeet Raval. Rabbi accounted for Raval’s wicket, getting him caught by Imrul Kayes for 39-ball 27.
However, it was Latham who was the star of the Kiwis’ reply. Latham has so far faced 222 balls and scored 119 runs, an innings in which he has hit 13 boundaries already. He has been involved in crucial partnerships so far with each of the batsmen. Latham added 54 for the first wicket with Raval, 77 runs for the second wicket with Kane Williamson (53) and 74 for the third wicket with Ross Taylor (40). So far, Latham and Nicholls have added 87 for the fourth wicket.
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