A captivating maiden century from Shakib Al Hasan was not enough to deny New Zealand victory on the fifth day at Seddon Park, as Bangladesh fell 121 runs of victory in the afternoon after a breathtaking morning's play.
Shakib played beautifully for his 100, taking the attack to the New Zealand bowlers who were firmly on top as the final day of the Test match began. Shakib battled valiantly in resistance, finding momentary support from his overnight partner, Mushfiqur Rahim, and the in-form Mahmudullah, but was ultimately left with just the company of the tail as he attempted to pull off an unlikely victory. It was not to be for Bangladesh.
Earlier, Shakib and Mushfiqur started patiently, negotiating the good deliveries safely but being sure to put away the bad balls; when they slashed they slashed hard at the wide ones to send them flying over the packed slip cordon. New Zealand tussled hard to keep the pressure on, sprightly, as usual, in the field with the bowers hitting their lengths consistently early on.
About 10 overs into the morning however, Shakib exploded. Having ended the previous day's play unbeaten on 0 from 25 balls, and then deadbatting his way through most of the opening spell, Shakib creamed his second half-century of the match in just 58 deliveries. Chris Martin was first dispatched for three fours in one over before Daniel Vettori brought himself on. His first over of the session cost 18, Shakib punctuating three strapping sweep shots with a skillful paddle to the fine-leg fence. He then hit 10 off the first three balls of Vettori's next over to bring up his 50 and to complete a staggering 13 ball burst in which he plundered 40 runs from the New Zealand attack.
Daryl Tuffey bowled two consecutive maidens at the other end, escaping Shakib's onslaught to nick Mushfiqur out with a pearler outside the off stump. But the captain's counterattack proved effective, Vettori forced to defend the leg side boundary, especially with Shakib on strike.
Mahmudullah played well with Shakib, the pair adding an entertaining 68 together, but they were ultimately unable to repeat their heroics of the first innings as Mahmudullah was caught by a diving Tuffey at mid-on for a well made 42. Shahadat Hossain did well to survive until Shakib reached his hundred in the first over after lunch, only for Tim Southee to clean up the centurion two balls later. With that, the tourists' hope of an upset slipped away.
The Bangladesh tail came out playing their shots, taking to Jeetan Patel's bowling in particular, but it was only a matter of time before the New Zealanders finished it off, Southee taking two more in successive deliveries to have the visitors all out for 282.
