NZ vs Ban | 2nd Test, Day 1: Tom Latham century puts hosts on top

Kingshuk Kusari

Hosts New Zealand came back strong in the second and the final Test match of the series by putting themselves in a commanding position on Day 1 at Hagley Oval.

Forced to bat first on a greenish deck on Sunday, 9 January, openers Tom Latham and Will Young put up a partnership of 148 runs for the first wicket, blunting the Bangladesh attack. Both scored at quick rate taking advantage of wayward lines and lengths from the visitors. While Young completed his half century, Latham scored his fastest hundred in the Test format, completing the three figure mark in 133 balls.

The visitors were guilty of putting down chances that arrived to them on day one and failed to bowl as a unit.

At the time of writing, Tom Latham and Devon Conway were at the crease having built a partnership of 94 runs in just 150 balls. Both batsmen have been aggressive in the approach, punishing short balls mercilessly on both sides of the ground.

NZ lost their first Test match at home in a long time after Bangladesh rocked them in the first Test match and are looking to level the series in the final match to keep their undefeated streak at home.

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I am happy they did it without me: Shakib Al Hasan on Bangladesh’s historic Test win vs New Zealand

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