New Zealand Test skipper Tim Southee slammed the pitch at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka after they won the second Test to level the series against Bangladesh. Bangladesh won the first Test by 150 runs and the Kiwis bounced back in style to win the second Test.
New Zealand needed 137 to win in the second innings and the Bangladesh spinners tried to make their job as hard as possible. Standing in their way was Glenn Phillips who scored an unbeaten 40 off 48 balls and along with Mitchell Santner (35 off 39) added an unbeaten stand of 70 runs to take the Kiwis to a win. New Zealand were 69/6 when Santner joined hands with Phillips. The right-hander scored a valuable 87 off 72 balls in the first innings and also took three wickets.
Speaking after the game at the post-match press conference, Tim Southee said that the Dhaka wicket was the “worst” he has seen in his career.
“It is probably the worst wicket I’ve come across in my career. The balance between bat and ball was heavily favoured into the bowler’s hands. I think for the match to be over in 170 overs sort of reflects that. So, for our guys to scrap away and then come away with the win was a big pleasure,” Southee said.
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It Was A Scrappy Test Match: New Zealand Test Skipper Tim Southee
He further described the second game as a “scrappy” Test match where runs were hard to come by.
“I think it was just a scrappy Test match. It was obviously a tough wicket. Runs were hard to come by, and just those little moments and partnerships throughout were crucial, whereas in other matches, I guess when conditions are a little bit more even between bat and ball, they don’t get noticed as much” Southee said further.
Bangladesh will be touring New Zealand now for a white-ball series of three ODIs and three T20Is starting from December 17. Phillips for his superlative batting effort was named the Player of the Match. Bangladesh spinner Taijul Islam was named the Men of the Series for his 15 wickets in the two-match series.
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