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BAN vs NZ | Phillips, Santner Come To Rescue As New Zealand Level Test Series In Dhaka

image-lpxwea78New Zealand won the 2nd Test match vs Bangladesh [AP]

New Zealand (1st innings): 139/6 in 39.4 overs (Glenn Phillips 40*, Mitchell Santner 35*; Mehidy Hasan 3/52) & 180/10 in 37.1 overs (Glenn Phillips 87; Mehidy Hasan 3/53, Taijul Islam 3/64) beat Bangladesh 172/10 in 66.2 overs (Mushfiqur Rahim 35; Glenn Phillips 3/31, Mitchell Santner 3/65) & 144/10 in 35 overs (Zakir Hasan 59; Ajaz Patel 6/57, Mitchell Santner 3/51) by 4 wickets. 

New Zealand overcame a major scare and avoided an embarrassing maiden Test series loss to Bangladesh with a thrilling victory in the close-fought second Test in Dhaka on Saturday (December 9). 

Glenn Phillips and Mitchell Santner provided the rescue act and propelled the Kiwis past chaos on a raging turner in Mirpur during the tricky fourth-innings chase of 136. The two all-round cricketers brought their 'A' game to the fore with the bat and relished the ease of conditions once the new ball wore off. 

Placed in a precarious hole at 69/6, the tourists were staring at a historic loss, which would've given Bangladesh their first-ever Test series triumph against them. However, they propelled through it all via a valiant stand for the seventh wicket between lower middle-order heroes Phillips (40*) and Santner (35*). 

The tempo at which the duo stitched the match-winning partnership of 70 runs completely ruffled the Bangladeshi feathers and got them erring in desperation for next breakthrough, which never arrived. Phillips was the real star of the show for New Zealand, making a huge difference to the game with both bat and ball. 

Phillips Emerges As New Zealand's Mirpur Hero 

Picked above promising allrounder Rachin Ravindra, Phillips vindicated the faith shown in him by the team management and the selectors as he delivered a priceless spell of 3 for 32 in the first-innings on Day 1 and then played a series-transforming knock of 87 off 72 on Day 3. 

image-lpxwhpamGlenn Phillips was the hero for New Zealand [AP]

Phillips' three-wicket haul to combine forces with more experienced tweakers Santner (3/65) and Ajaz Patel (2/54) helped New Zealand skittle out Bangladesh for 172 after losing the toss and being asked to bowl on a raging turner. 

The 27-year-old then played an innings of a lifetime as he belted the Bangladeshi attack with a strike rate of 120.83 on a treacherous wicket to avert a collapse which saw the Kiwis succumb to 46/5 at one stage. 

From there, Phillips' knock ensured New Zealand earned a slender lead of eight when they could've easily conceded huge advantage to the opposition. The cricketer was rightfully awarded the 'Player of the Match' for his memorable allround performance in Mirpur. 

Bangladesh would've been deeply disappointed to have missed out on a great chance to secure a series win after a resounding display in Sylhet. The hosts conceded several positions of strength in all four innings of the Test to post scores of just 172 and 144 all out. 

The Tigers had the opportunity to stretch the lead beyond the Kiwis having overhauled them in the third innings but then suffered a horrendous collapse from 71 for 2 after left-arm twins Patel (6/57) and Santner (3/51) ran riot from both ends.