Cricket: Vettori has Bangladesh in a spin

8.48pm

DHAKA - Daniel Vettori spun New Zealand to a comprehensive victory over Bangladesh in the first cricket test here today.

The tourists won by an innings and 99 runs as Bangladesh were bundled out for 126 almost immediately after lunch on the fourth day.

Vettori was nearly unplayable at Bangabandhu National Stadium as he claimed six for 28 off 22 overs, his eighth five-wicket bag in tests.

It was his first five-wicket haul at this level since the third test against Australia in Perth in December, 2001.

Vettori received valuable assistance at the other end from offspinner Paul Wiseman, who took three for 64, after Bangladesh resumed this morning on 41 for two.

It was New Zealand's third successive innings victory over Bangladesh following their two-match test series in New Zealand in 2001.

After posting 402 in response to Bangladesh's first innings of 177, New Zealand were not keep waiting long as they sought to make inroads into the home side's batting line up today.

Left-armer Vettori struck with the sixth ball of the first over when umpire Mark Benson ruled Rajin Saleh was caught behind by wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum, although replays showed the ball may have missed the bat.

Seamer Jacob Oram opened the bowling with Vettori, but was replaced after delivering two maidens.

Wiseman was quickly introduced as Blacks Caps leader Stephen Fleming chose to use his slow bowlers in tandem, and Wiseman's first ball turned sharply and broke down the leg side for four byes.

Wiseman's bad luck continued when he dropped overnight batsmen Nafees Iqbal in his second over when Iqbal smacked the ball hard to the left of the bowler.

A another boundary from Ashraful, who scored 67 in the first innings, signalled an intent from Bangladesh to attack the tourists.

Wiseman came in for some harsh treatment when Iqbal advanced down the pitch to hit him for six over long on as Bangladesh moved to 70 for three in the 33rd over.

Two balls later, Iqbal slipped one past Fleming at first slip for four.

Ashraful followed suit in the next over by lofting Vettori over his head for six.

Iqbal was then given another life when an attempted big hit off Wiseman held up only for Ian Butler, running in from long on, to spill the ball.

Wiseman then dropped his second caught and bowled chance when Ashraful spooned the ball back.

Iqbal's entertaining innings ended in the 38th over when he was run for 49 when attempting a second run after Wiseman fired the ball in from long leg for McCullum to remove the bails.

After batting reasonably well to advance to 87 for four Bangladesh collapsed.

Wiseman got his first wicket of the match over when Alok Kapali cut at a turning delivery which edged to McCullum.

The Canterbury offspinner struck again when Khaled Mashud stretched forward with a defensive shot which deflected to Scott Styris at leg slip.

Manzaural Rana was caught by Mark Richardson at short leg then Tareq Aziz became Vettori's sixth victim when trapped leg before wicket.

Mohammad Rafique was the final batsman to fall when he edged to Fleming at first slip in Wiseman's first over after lunch.

The second and last test starts in Chittagong on Tuesday.

Fleming was understandably happy with how the match unfolded.

"It went according to plan really with the result coming in 3-1/2 days but there were times in the test match when we under pressure," Fleming said.

"Bangladesh came back well at stages and it showed with our top order batting when we failed to get the partnerships together that's needed for a big score.

"It wasn't until Brendon McCullum and Jacob Oram steered the ship that we were able to gain some dominance, but once we did there was only one team in it."

Fleming described the win -- New Zealand's first on the subcontinent since they beat Sri Lanka in Colombo in 1998 -- as professional, and they would look to again exert their dominance in the second test which starts on Tuesday in Chittagong.

"The confidence we gained from this game from McCullum onwards, and the way the spinners played...

"I think Bangladesh had one partnership in the match which put some pressure on us in the first day, but from then on it was pretty much us who controlled it, although their spinners did a good job."

Fleming thought Bangladesh would have put up more resistance given the fact their batsmen are groomed on spin bowling and had the advantage of a home pitch.

"I was expecting a little bit more in these conditions on a wicket that offered the seamers very little.

"I thought they would have more chance of competing but they were not able to string partnerships together."

- NZPA