Vettori steers Black Caps home

Daniel Vettori works to leg during his match-winning 76

Nightwatchman Daniel Vettori produced a captain’s innings to guide New Zealand to a three-wicket victory in the first Test against Bangladesh.

Chasing a target of 317, Vettori - batting at four after two wickets fell yesterday evening - was the backbone of his side’s chase, finally falling for 76.

There were also contributions from Aaron Redmond (79) and Daniel Flynn (49) as New Zealand claimed what had seemed an unlikely victory.

They began the final day needing 172 runs for victory and Vettori quickly set about reducing that figure with a couple of early boundaries.

Redmond, who had reached 50 on day four, also got in on the act when he drove Shahadat Hossain off the back foot through extra cover before despatching a full toss down the ground.

However, Shakib Al Hasan, who took seven wickets in the first innings, struck to remove Redmond for 79 when he looked well set.

The left-arm spinner induced an edge that was claimed by Junaid Siddique at slip to reduce New Zealand to 185 for three.

Vettori forged on unperturbed, cutting Shakib to the fence to bring up New Zealand's 200.

But the tourists lost another wicket nine runs later as Ross Taylor (nine) steered a short ball from Mashrafe Mortaza into the hands of substitute fielder Mahbubul Alam.

Abdur Razzak has Brendon McCullum lbw for two but Vettori saw New Zealand to the brink of victory

The tourists were on 212 for four at lunch with Vettori and Brendon McCullum at the crease.

The New Zealand wicketkeeper made little impression after the resumption, failing to add to his two before being trapped in front by Abdur Razzak.

But that was the only drama New Zealand endured in the afternoon session as Vettori and Flynn made serene progress.

The pair were still there at tea, and had added 82 for the sixth wicket, a partnership which swung the match decisively in New Zealand’s favour, when Vettori was bowled by Razzak attempting a wild heave.

It was an impressive innings from Vettori and one which, along with a first-innings half-century and nine wickets in the match, earned him the man-of-the-match award.

The contest was all but over by the time he fell with the score on 298 for six and, though Flynn became Shakib’s ninth and final wicket of the match a run before he could claim a half-century, Jacob Oram (eight) and Kyle Mills (one) saw them home.

It completed an unlikely turnaround from New Zealand after Bangladesh had dominated the first three and a half days of the Test.

The hosts will have to lift themselves if they are to square the series in the second and final Test, which begins in Mirpur on Saturday.