Kiwis sweep series after Bangla collapse

Christchurch, January 23 

New Zealand were left with a 109-run target, which they knocked off in 18.4 overs to complete a rout of Bangladesh, winning all eight matches — three T20s, three ODIs and two Tests — during the tour.

The Test sweep means New Zealand will overtake Pakistan and move to fifth spot on the world rankings.

On a day of 14 dismissals on an easy wicket, New Zealand coasted home with Tom Latham unbeaten on 41 and Colin de Grandhomme on 33, effectively ending the Test in three days after the third day was washed out.

Bangladesh were 65 runs in arrears and in need of patience when they started their second innings before lunch. Instead, they showed their inexperience with the short ball and tried to hook and drive their way out of trouble. After 10 overs they went to lunch at 20/1, by tea they were 100/5 and the end came 17 overs into the final session, boosted by a late slog from Taskin Ahmed and Kamrul Islam who put on 51 in 48 balls.

There had been a question mark over the Bangladesh line-up after Imrul Kayes, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mominul Haque, with 98 Tests between them, were kept out by injury. They cobbled together a makeshift side with seven players having three or fewer Tests to their name, and although the game was evenly poised after the first two days, the greenness of the wicket came to the fore after that. — AFP

Brief scores: New Zealand 354 and 111 for 1 (Latham 41*); Bangladesh 289 and 173 (Wagner 3/44, Southee 3/48)