Wagner outwits Bangladesh as New Zealand take series

Neil Wagner bounced New Zealand to a series victory Tuesday as he took five wickets to demolish Bangladesh by an innings and 12 runs in the rain-shortened second and penultimate Test match.

On only the third morning when play was possible at the Basin Reserve in Wellington after the first two days were washed out, Bangladesh fell apart in the face of Wagner's short-ball barrage.

They were all out for 209, with Wagner taking five for 45, as only captain Mahmudullah and Mohammad Mithun offered some resistance with 67 and 47 respectively.

But they could not stave off Wagner whose stock short-ball delivery also tormented Bangladesh in the first Test which New Zealand won by an innings and 52 runs at Seddon Park in Hamilton.

When Bangladesh resumed day five at 80 for three, Trent Boult made the initial breakthrough when he dismissed Soumya Sarkar for 28.

Bangladesh lost the second Test by an innings and 12 runs against New Zealand.#BANvNZ pic.twitter.com/p6IoumSKVc

— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) March 12, 2019

Wagner then started his demolition with two wickets taken by tempting the batsmen into hook shots down the leg side.

Mithun was well caught by Tim Southee at leg gully while Liton Das had only a single to his name when he decided to take Wagner on and was caught by Boult at fine leg.

Taijul Islam fended a short ball to Tom Latham at silly point without scoring.

Mahmudullah was dismissed in similar fashion to Mithun while Ebadat Hossain was bowled for a duck after the umpires extended the first session by 15 minutes as a result was likely.

Boult took four for 52 and Matt Henry had one for 67 to account for the other wickets.

Safe to say that Bangladesh are yet to win in New Zealand....#NZvBAN pic.twitter.com/dYtr55t5M9

— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) March 12, 2019

New Zealand, who took the field without injured skipper Kane Williamson, suffered a further injury blow on the final morning when wicket-keeper BJ Watling strained a hamstring during his warm-up and was replaced by the uncapped substitute Peter Bocock. 

Williamson injured his left shoulder while fielding on day three and may be rested for the third and final Test starting at Hagley Oval in Christchurch Saturday, giving the uncapped Will Young a chance. 

Kiwis head coach Gary Stead added that it was too early to determine whether Watling would be fit for the Christchurch Test after he did not appear on the fifth day.

The victory was New Zealand's fifth Test series win in succession.

2ND TEST, DAY 5

BANGLADESH 1ST INNINGS 211 IN 61 OVERS (Tamim 74, Wagner 4/28)

NEW ZEALAND 1ST INNINGS 432/6D IN 84.5 OVERS (Taylor 200, Nicholls 107)

BANGLADESH 2ND INNINGS OVERNIGHT 80/3 IN 23 OVERS    R    B

Mithun c Southee b Wagner                    47    105

Soumya c Taylor b Boult                    28    57

Mahmudullah c Boult b Wagner                67    69

Liton c Boult b Wagner                    1    7

Taijul c Latham b Wagner                    0    6

Mustafizur b Boult                        16    22

Jayed not out                            0    3

Ebadat b Wagner                        0    2

Extras (lb4, w3)                        7

Total (56 overs)                        209 all out

Fall Of Wickets

4-112 (Soumya), 5-152 (Mithun), 6-158 (Liton), 7-170 (Taijul), 8-203 (Mustafizur), 9-209 (Mahmudullah), 10-209 (Ebadat) 

Bowling

Boult 16-5-52-4, Southee 12-1-57-0 (1w), Henry 9-3-40-1 (1w), De Grandhomme 5-0-11-0 (1w), Wagner 14-4-45-5

NZ won by an innings & 12 runs, clinch 3-Test series 2-0

MoM: Ross Taylor (NZ)