New Zealand Closing In On Victory In Hamilton

New Zealand Closing In On Victory In Hamilton

Tim McIntosh top scored as New Zealand declared 403 runs ahead.

©REUTERS/Vivek Prakash (SRI LANKA SPORT CRICKET) Picture Supplied by Action Images

New Zealand 553-6 dec. & 258-5 dec. (McIntosh 89) v
Bangladesh 408 (Mahmudullah 115) & 88-5
Only Test, Hamilton, day four

New Zealand were closing in on an emphatic Test victory over Bangladesh after reducing their opponents to 88 for five on day four of the only match in Hamilton.

New Zealand had earlier declared their second innings on 258 for five, leaving Bangladesh a target of 404 and they left themselves with a desperate fight to save the game on the final day.

New Zealand began the day on nine for one and Tim McIntosh made up for the misunderstanding that saw opening partner BJ Watling run out on day three by scoring 89 as New Zealand made solid progress.

Ross Taylor (51) and Martin Guptill (56 not out) also scored half-centuries before captain Daniel Vettori decided 403 was enough of a lead and called the innings to a halt.

The top three batsmen were all run out, Mahmudullah taking two for 84.

He scored a century in Bangladesh's first innings and he will likely be required to score another one after Bangladesh lost their top five men for 78 runs.

Tamim Iqbal thrashed 30 in 19 balls and Imrul Kayes dug in to make 29 in 61 before the innings crumbled, Vettori leading the way with two for 23 as Junaid Siddique (8), Aftab Ahmed (8) and Mohammad Ashraful (2) also departed.

Captain Shakib Al Hasan was unbeaten on nought from 25 balls at stumps alongside Mushfiqur Rahim, who has ten.

© Cricket World 2010

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