Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim ‘fine’ after head blow

The New Zealand bowlers’ efforts, which saw them blow away Bangladesh for just 160 in their second innings, helped New Zealand set sights on their target (217) and chase in down with seven wickets to spare. “Anything’s possible”, he said, adding Bangladesh were determined to erase their nightmare build-up to the Test when they lost all six one-day and Twenty20 matches.

Williamson was delighted to have to have taken a 1-0 lead in the series, and said: “Credit to Bangladesh, they put our bowlers under pressure [in the first innings]”.

Mushfiqur had been unable to keep wicket during the New Zealand first innings because of the finger injury suffered as he made 159 during the tourists’ first turn at bat.

That New Zealand prevailed after allowing Bangladesh to make 595 for 8 declared in its first innings and conceding a lead of 56 runs would make this among its finest victories.

Bangladesh then went back in for their second innings, and in a unsafe 19 over stint lost three wickets to find themselves 3 for 66 at stumps with a lead of just 122, something they must build upon on the final day.

He also matched the highest wicketkeeping dismissals for Bangladesh.

“There is a mild concussion so the physio and medical team will take it slowly with Mushfiq and observe him regularly over the next few days, and maybe then if the situation permits, get him back into playing”, he said.

That they won at a canter was largely down to the brilliance of Williamson, who raced to his 50 in only 43 balls to soothe any Kiwi nerves after Mehedi Hasan had accounted for both of their openers. The guys stepped up with the ball on a flat surface.

“It then really came down to the second innings and I guess (that’s) when we took control of the game”.

“Back in the day you could bowl as many as you wanted and they had no helmets, so thank goodness now we’ve got a lot better safety equipment”. Apparently it is a tough seeing ground for catching, at certain points it can be hard. The partnership with Ross gave us momentum.

“A day five wicket, chasing anything can be tough, but to chase the (217) and do it well as a batting unit was all the more pleasing”. Especially with a come-from-behind Test win on offer.

“To bounce back and achieve that was brilliant and it allowed us to chase down the total”.

Boosted by man-of-the-match Tom Latham’s highest test score of 177 that anchored their reply of 539, New Zealand hung in there and put the foot down when needed, just as Bangladesh were flagging late on day four. It was nice to bat longer.