New Zealand beat Bangladesh by nine wickets inside three days in the first cricket Test Sunday to remain unbeaten in tests between the nations and take a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series.
The resistance Bangladesh mounted late on the second day Saturday, after trailing New Zealand by 220 runs on the first innings, crumbled on day three, leaving New Zealand chasing 35 to win the match.
Bangladesh resumed Sunday at 148 without loss, strengthened by the largest opening partnership in their history between new caps Tamim Iqbal and Zunaed Siddique which had drawn them towards parity with New Zealand.
New Zealand's bowlers who had struggled late Saturday, taking no wickets for 148, turned the tables Sunday and took 10 for 106 to bowl out Bangladesh for 254, making victory a formality.
Matthew Bell, whose first-innings century was a key component of New Zealand's fifth Test win over Bangladesh, made 20 as New Zealand achieved the winning runs in 8.1 overs, six minutes ahead of the tea break. Peter Fulton, who was left 15 not out, brought up the win with a six.
The only consolation for Bangladesh, in its 50th Test match, was that it avoided the innings defeats which it has suffered in each of four previous Tests against New Zealand. Bangladesh's Test record stands at 44 losses, five draws and one win.
The New Zealand bowlers, particularly the seamers, seemed to lack a clear plan when they bowled late on the second day, or expected Bangladesh would submit as easily as they did in the first innings when they were out for 137.
Bell's 107 and Jacob Oram's 117 were the keynotes of New Zealand's first innings of 357.
The second Test will be held in Wellington, New Zealand, from Jan. 12-16.
NZ vs BAN, First Test, Dunedin: New Zealand 357 & 39-1 beat Bangladesh 137 & 254 by nine wickets
