CHRISTCHURCH, Jan 10: Tom Latham scored 252, Devon Conway banked another century and Ross Taylor likely played his last test innings as New Zealand declared at 521-6 on Monday before bowling out Bangladesh for 126 on the second day of the second cricket test.
Trent Boult took 5-43, including his 300th test wicket to join Richard Hadlee, Daniel Vettori and Tim Southee among New Zealanders who have taken 300 wickets in tests. The milestone came in Boult’s 75th test at an average of 27.35.
Latham declared New Zealand’s first innings halfway through the middle session on day two at Christchurch, and Boult and Southee raced through the Bangladesh top order to leave the tourists’ 11-4 in the seventh over.
Yasir Ali posted a maiden test half century and was out for 55 just before stumps.
Latham’s second double century in tests was a mammoth innings which began when he lost the toss Sunday for the sixth time as New Zealand’s stand-in captain. It ended 552 minutes, or 5 1/2 sessions, later after Latham had shared partnerships of 148 for the first wicket with Will Young and 215 for the second with Conway.
He reached his double century from 305 balls early on the second day. But Latham made a rare error when he called his partner through for a quick single just as the pair were regaining momentum and Conway, who looked impregnable, was beaten by a direct hit at the non-striker’s end.
Conway took a single from the first ball of the day to reach his third century in five tests.
His dismissal brought Taylor to the crease for what is likely to be his last innings in test cricket. The 37-year-old batter will retire from tests after this match in which he equals Daniel Vettori’s record of 112 test matches for New Zealand.
Taylor has been a member of the New Zealand test team for almost 15 years. He has scored 7,683 test runs, more than any other New Zealander. He has 19 test centuries and is the only New Zealander to have played 100 matches in all three international formats. (AP)
