CHRISTCHURCH, (AFP) New Zealand – On day one of the second Test against Bangladesh in Christchurch on Sunday, Tom Latham was on his way to a double century as New Zealand reached 349 for one at stumps, defying Hagley Oval’s dreadful reputation for batsmen.
On day one, the Black Caps scored at will on a ground believed to be a bowler’s dream, with the New Zealand captain undefeated on 186 and Devon Conway on 99.
New Zealand, desperate for a win to salvage the series after losing the first Test, has defied the green surface and been in command since losing the toss and being forced into bat.
Latham and Conway have put on 201 for the second wicket, following a 148-run stand for the first wicket between Latham and Will Young (54)
To deliver wickets on Hagley Oval’s lush surface, bowlers must keep a decent line and length, and Bangladesh were guilty of straying too often.
Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, and Ebadot Hossain fed New Zealand a diet of loose deliveries, and Bangladesh spent the day chasing the ball to the boundary at a venue where the average first innings score is 263.
Latham, who struggled in the first Test with innings of one and 14, made steady progress, with his first 50 coming off 65 deliveries, the second 68, and the third 66.
His unbroken 186 features 28 fours, while Conway’s 99 has 10 fours and a six.
Latham’s century moved him up to fourth on the list of New Zealand century-makers, which is led by Kane Williamson, who has 24.
The only time he was troubled was in Ebadot Hossain’s opening over, when he was twice given out lbw only to have the dismissals overturned on appeal.
Late in the day, Bangladesh argued vehemently that Latham had been caught behind, but replays revealed the ball had missed the bat.
After an unproductive morning session, Bangladesh blew a chance for a wicket in the first over after lunch, resulting in a seven-run farce.
Liton Das dropped a Will Young edge off Ebadot at third slip, giving New Zealand to run for three.
As the bowler and fielders grumbled, the return throw was thrown to the bowler’s end, where no one was backing up, and the ball raced through to the boundary.
Young scored a five in his following over, much to Ebadot’s chagrin, as he took a rapid single and Mehidy Hasan’s throw at the stumps from mid-wicket raced to the boundary again.
Young would go on to score another 21 runs before an attempted drive was caught by Mohammad Naim at point, giving Shoriful Islam his first and only wicket.