Fast bowler Trent Boult entered into the 300th wicket club in grand style as New Zealand took the complete control of the second and final Test against Bangladesh at Hagley Oval in Christchurch today.
Boult reached the milestone with 5-43, his ninth five-for in Test cricket, a bowling figure that was instrumental in wrapping up Bangladesh for just 126 in the first innings.
New Zealand earlier declared their innings at mammoth 521-6, thanks to an epic 252 from captain Tom Latham and a 109 from Devon Conway.
At stumps, Bangladesh are trailing by 395 runs and it is highly likely that New Zealand would enforce follow-on rather than batting for the second time with rain in the forecast for the last two days of the game.
Yasir Ali Rabbi scored his maiden Test fifty amid Bangladesh's batting debacle. He eventually was dismissed after hitting 55. Nurul Hasan Sohan who replaced injured Mushfiqur Rahim made 41. They were the only two batters of Bangladesh to reach double digit figure.
Naim Sheikh made a disastrous start to the longer version cricket, being out on duck in his debut Test. Captain Mominul Haque was also dismissed for duck as Bangladesh were reduced to 11-4 and then when Liton was out for 8, the visitors were five down for 27 runs.
As they looked highly likely to be bowled out below 100, resistance came from Yasir and Nurul who combined for a 60-run for the sixth wicket stand to edge Bangladesh closer to 100.
Tim Southee who snared 3-28, broke the partnership, trapping Nurul leg- before for 41 after he struck six boundaries, facing 62 balls.
Yasir kept his patience and calmly took the side past 100 but Boult and Kyle Jamieson, who grabbed 2-32 ripped through the lower order in no time. Yasir was the ninth batter to be out, hitting seven fours for his 95 ball-55.
Resuming the day on 349-1, New Zealand's only goal was to score runs as faster as possible. Latham took the charge and went after Bangladeshi bowlers in style.
Devon Conway, who started the day with 99, soon completed his third century in fifth Test but couldn't last long as his aggressive batting cost his wicket for 109.
Latham meanwhile brought up his double century but saw Ebadot Hossain, the Bangladesh's hero in the first Test, triggered a mini middle order collapse, taking out Ross Taylor and Henry Nicholls for three runs.
But Tom Blundell made up the loss of the duo, batting aggressively. Mominul Haque's part time spin gave Bangladesh breakthrough with the wicket of Latham after his blasted 252 off 373 with 34 fours and two sixes.
Blundell was not out on 57 off 60, clobbering eight fours. Ebadot and Shoriful Islam took two wickets for Bangladesh while Mominul bagged one.