New Zealand need 109 after Bangladesh’s second-innings implosion

Innings: Bangladesh 289 and 173 (Wagner 3-44, Southee 3-48, Boult 3-52) lead New Zealand 354 (Nicholls 98, Taylor 77, Latham 68, Shakib 4-50) by 108 runsLive scorecard and ball-by-ball details

For the second time in successive Test matches, Bangladesh imploded in the second innings after holding their own in a neck-and-neck first innings battle. Once again, their batsmen played a significant role in their own downfall. Having started day on level terms, they conceded a lead of 65, before collapsing spectacularly in their second innings, with the bulk of their batsmen gifting New Zealand their wickets.

With a minimum of 19 overs left on the fourth day, light permitting, New Zealand need 109 to wrap up a 2-0 series win.

After a third day lost to rain, the fourth had begun with Henry Nicholls falling two short of a maiden Test hundred and helping New Zealand gain a first-innings lead of 65. It was a useful lead, but only that. Given New Zealand had to bat last, the match was still in the balance when Bangladesh began their second innings towards the tail-end of an extended first session. By tea, however, they were halfway through yet another second-innings meltdown, and were 100 for 5 – effectively 35 for 5 – with only one of their wickets falling to a defensive shot.

Bangladesh lost Tamim Iqbal in the 10 overs they needed to bat out before lunch, the stand-in captain top-edging a hook off Tim Southee. After the break came a period of calm, with Soumya Sarkar stroking the ball fluently and Mahmudullah defending resolutely during a second-wicket stand of 41. With Bangladesh seven runs short of wiping out their deficit, though, Sarkar attempted to steer Colin de Grandhomme to third man – a risky proposition given three fielders in the cordon – and middled the ball to gully.

Shakib Al Hasan edged his first ball between …

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