New Zealand v Bangladesh Series

New Zealand wrapped up their two-test series against Bangladesh when they bowled the visitors out for 113 just before lunch on the third day of the second test at the Basin Reserve on Monday.

New Zealand won the match by an innings and 137 runs, and wrapped up the test inside for three days for the second time. They won the first test in Dunedin by nine wickets.

All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who was dropped by Matthew Bell in the slips early in the day top-scored for the visitors with a defiant 41 not out.

Opening batsman Tamim Iqbal did not bat in the second innings after he broke his thumb while fielding on Sunday.

Resuming on 51 for five and with little hope of saving the test, Bangladesh lost batting mainstay Habibul Bashar in the first over of the day when he only made a half stride forward and was trapped in front by Chris Martin for 25.

Shahadat Hossain was the next to fall when he poked his bat at a swinging delivery from Iain O'Brien before Sajidul Islam was run out for three after a mix-up with Shakib.

Shakib and Mushrafe Mortaza then combined for the most productive partnership of the Bangladesh innings by adding 30 runs for the ninth wicket before Mortaza was the last wicket to fall when he was caught by Kyle Mills off Jacob Oram for six.

All four of New Zealand's front line pace bowlers took two wickets each with Chris Martin, who took five in the first innings, named man of the match. (Reporting by Greg Stutchbury in Melbourne; Editing by John O'Brien)

New Zealand cruise home over Bangladesh

New Zealand produced a morale-boosting performance as they romped to a six-wicket win over Bangladesh in their ODI on Wednesday, the first of a three-match series.
Set a modest target of 202 on the short-boundaries of Eden Park, opener Jamie How set the platform with a patient 88 before Scott Styris ended the game with a towering six in the 43rd over. Following heavy defeats to leading cricket nations Australia and South Africa in the past two months, New Zealand were desperate to stem the slide against the minnows of international cricket.
With Bangladesh racing along at five an over, Ashraful belted the Oram delivery straight to Peter Fulton at deep mid-wicket, triggering a sensational collapse. Bangladesh were then 150 for four after 29 overs, and in the space of the next 20 more balls they added just four more runs and lost three wickets to be 154 for seven.
Mashrafe Mortaza (17) and Abdur Razzak (not out 22) added some life to the tail before the Bangladesh innings ended at 201 in the 43rd over. Despite New Zealand's batting shortfalls in recent months they were never in trouble on the ideal batting wicket.
How and Brendon McCullum started with a 90-run opening partnership before a lack of concentration by McCullum (40) saw him lob a full toss straight back to Farhad Reza. Fulton (35) joined How to add another 67 for the second wicket. Fulton's dismissal, followed by How and Ross Taylor (8) in quick succession left Styris to end formalities with his second six to remain unbeaten on 25.
The second game in the series will be played in Napier on Friday with the third and final ODI in Queenstown on New Year's Eve ahead of two Test matches.

New Zealand beat Bangladesh by 9 wickets

New Zealand beat Bangladesh by nine wickets inside three days in the first cricket Test Sunday to remain unbeaten in tests between the nations and take a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series.
The resistance Bangladesh mounted late on the second day Saturday, after trailing New Zealand by 220 runs on the first innings, crumbled on day three, leaving New Zealand chasing 35 to win the match. Bangladesh resumed Sunday at 148 without loss, strengthened by the largest opening partnership in their history between new caps Tamim Iqbal and Zunaed Siddique which had drawn them towards parity with New Zealand.
New Zealand's bowlers who had struggled late Saturday, taking no wickets for 148, turned the tables Sunday and took 10 for 106 to bowl out Bangladesh for 254, making victory a formality. Matthew Bell, whose first-innings century was a key component of New Zealand's fifth Test win over Bangladesh, made 20 as New Zealand achieved the winning runs in 8.1 overs, six minutes ahead of the tea break. Peter Fulton, who was left 15 not out, brought up the win with a six.
The only consolation for Bangladesh, in its 50th Test match, was that it avoided the innings defeats which it has suffered in each of four previous Tests against New Zealand. Bangladesh's Test record stands at 44 losses, five draws and one win. The New Zealand bowlers, particularly the seamers, seemed to lack a clear plan when they bowled late on the second day, or expected Bangladesh would submit as easily as they did in the first innings when they were out for 137.
Bell's 107 and Jacob Oram's 117 were the keynotes of New Zealand's first innings of 357. The second Test will be held in Wellington, New Zealand, from Jan. 12-16.