Watling, Santner help New Zealand reduce deficit

BJ Watling (49) and Mitchell Santner (49 not out) shared a vital stand of 73 for the seventh wicket to reduce the deficit to 103 at Tea on Day 4 of the first Test against Bangladesh in Wellington on Sunday (January 15). At the end of the second session, the hosts were 492 for 8.

Bangladesh had picked up three wickets in the first session to cause a few flutters in New Zealand's camp. However, Watling and Santner played sensibly to steer the home team to a position from where they could hope to salvage a draw.

Watling showed his penchant for back foot play with cut strokes. With his broad blade, the wicketkeeper-batsman even crunched a sublime straight drive off Taskin Ahmed in the 133rd over. The Watling-Santner duo also pinched singles and twos to keep the opposition at bay.

Santner, however, sustained a blow on the helmet off Taskin's bowling in the 120th over. The all-rounder neither ducked nor looked to sway away from the line, and paid the price for it. Fortunately, he was able to resume batting.

Mahmudullah, eventually, ended the valuable stand by dismissing Watling in his first over of the innings. Despite a vociferous appeal for a caught behind, Watling was initially given not out. Bangladesh took the review and the HotSpot showed that Watling had eked out an edge. Hence, the decision was reversed. Mahmudullah's golden arm worked again when he trapped Tim Southee in the same over.

At the break, Neil Wagner was giving Santner company. Taskin, Kamrul Islam Rabbi and Shakib Al Hasan all bowled useful spells for the visitors.

Earlier, in the first session, Bangladesh picked up three wickets to keep their noses in front. Tom Latham composed a gritty innings of 177 and turned out to be star performer for the home side.

Latham, who resumed on his overnight score of 119, played with positive intent for most part of the session. He began the day with a crunching cover-drive off Taskin. He then neatly threaded the gaps in the field to crack drives and flicks off Subashis Roy.

Latham got to his 150 in style with a cut stroke of Kamrul Islam. Henry Nicholls (52), his partner at the other end, provided Latham valuable support. New Zealand, however, lost the wicket of Nicholls against the run of play. The left-handed batsman trickled one down the leg-side off Shakib with Mehedi Hasan pouching the catch at leg slip.

Bangladesh could have also picked the prized scalp of Latham, but Mehedi grassed a tough chance off Kamrul Islam's bowling at second slip.However, the visitors didn't have to wait long for their next wicket as Colin de Grandhomme tried one shot too many and Subashis Roy took his first Test scalp.

Right at the fag end of the session, the tourists dented New Zealand further by bagging the key wicket of Latham. The southpaw opener tried to sweep Shakib, but was rapped on the pads and found himself trapped in front.

Brief scores: Bangladesh 595/8 decl. (Shakib Al Hasan 217, Mushfiqur Rahim 159; Neil Wagner 4-151) lead New Zealand 492/8 (Tom Latham 177, Kane Williamson 53; Mahmudullah 2-15) by 103 runs.