The Wisden Bulletin
by Wisden staff
Friday, December 28, 2001

Close New Zealand 341 for 6 dec (Richardson 83, McMillan 70, Fleming 61, Manjural Islam 3-99), Bangladesh 132 and 67 for 5 (Habibul Bashar 32, Shane Bond 3-13)
scorecard

It was the same old story on the third day at Wellington. Stephen Fleming declared with his side 209 ahead on first innings, but he needn't have been so conservative: Shane Bond wrecked Bangladesh's second innings and they closed on 67 for 5, still 142 away from avoiding an innings defeat. The last rites on this most one-sided of series will be administered. For New Zealand, a lead of 109 would probably have been enough.

The lively Bond didn't take long to feast on the easy pickings on offer. He had Al Sahariar taken by Matthew Horne at third slip for 0 (5 for 1) and then, after switching ends, pinned Javed Omar lbw for 12. That was 28 for 2, and four overs later it was 41 for 3 when Aminul Islam was snaffled at fourth slip by Daniel Vettori for 4 to give Bond his third wicket.

Habibul Bashar, the only Bangladeshi batsman to approach Test class, punched a neat 32 but he fell just before the close, lbw to the last ball of Chris Drum's first over (62 for 4). It got worse three overs later when Mohammad Ashraful fell in similar fashion, trapped on the back foot by Vettori for 10 (64 for 5).

Earlier New Zealand, resuming on 72 for 0, smashed the bowling round largely as they pleased, though none failed to capitalise on one of the easier chances they will get to make a Test hundred, with Mark Richardson and Craig McMillan missing out on back-to-back hundreds.

Richardson made 83, Stephen Fleming 61, and McMillan, who raced to 50 off 42 balls, a brusque 71-ball 70 before he was run out. But the real fireworks came from Chris Cairns, who smacked three sixes – including one murderous straight hit that almost took the umpire's head off – in his quickfire 36.

Fleming declared the moment Cairns was out, and even though three of the eight days in this series have had no play at all, his side should wrap up a 2-0 series whitewash sometime before lunch tomorrow.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd