NZ clinch series after draw

It was a contrast from a gripping fourth day, as the last passage of play in the second Test proved to be the least exciting of all. The match ended in a predictable draw after rain had washed out the first three days. The result, though, allowed the visitors to clinch the two-Test series 1-0 after having won the first match at Chittagong.

New Zealand finished on 79 for 1 in their second innings, with Jesse Ryder (39) and Aaron Redmond (30) at the crease, after Jamie How was dismissed before lunch for 8. The visitors had a lead of 172, but ran out of time to give themselves any hope of a clean sweep. A dull final session saw both batsmen labouring to 79 off 31overs, before both captains agreed on a draw. It's the first time Bangladesh have managed to avert defeat in eight Testsagainst New Zealand.

However, when play began this morning, New Zealand gave themselves a chance of victory after Daniel Vettori had taken three wickets in one over the previous day. In response to the visitors' 262 for 6 declared, the hosts began the day on 13 for 3, needing another 150 to avoid the follow-on. But Bangladesh found themselves in trouble, quickly reduced to 44 for 6.

Spin was always going to be a threat this morning with Vettori on song, but it was Jeetan Patel who got the first breakthrough, trapping Mehrab Hossain jnr lbw off a straight delivery.

The Bangladesh batsmen focussed on defense throughout the first hour with the run rate hovering at about two runs an over. Vettori then picked up his fourth victim, getting Tamim Iqbal to push at a ball just outside the off stump and induce an edge to Ross Taylor. Not for the first time in the series, Tamim fell soon after establishing himself at the crease, for 24.

The situation worsened when Mushfiqur Rahim departed without any addition to the score. He fended a short ball from Iain O'Brien off his glove, offering a simple chance to Brendon McCullum down the leg side.

At that stage, the game swung heavily in favour of New Zealand as the follow-on target of 163 was still 119 away. But Shakib Al Hasan and Mashrafe Mortaza set about resurrecting the innings. They showed that the pitch was still good for batting. Defence was still a priority, but both managed to punish the bad balls without difficulty. They put on 78 for the seventh wicket - a partnership that looked to have saved the team.

However, as has been so common in this series, the loss of a few quick wickets once again gave New Zealand another chance of an unlikely victory. Shakib was adjudged lbw trying to sweep a straight delivery from Vettori with the score at 122, still 41 short of their initial target.

But Mortaza continued punishing the wayward deliveries, and it looked as though he would see his team through in a canter. Together with Abdur Razzak he took the score to 155, before he was caught at silly mid-off while fending off a short ball from Iain O'Brien. Mortaza finished on 48, hitting seven fours and two sixes.

This gave the New Zealanders one last chance, but Razzak and Shahadat Hossain took their team to safety. And after Shahadat became O'Brien's third victim of the innings, Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashrufal declared at 169 for 9, still trailing by 93 runs - only the third declaration by a Bangladesh captain in Test cricket.

The pick of the bowlers were Vettori and O'Brien. The former maintained a perfect line and length, finishing with 5 for 66 off 19 overs while O'Brien troubled the batsmen with his short rising deliveries, ending up with 3 for 31.

Vettori picked up the Man-of-the-Match award for his five-wicket haul and was also adjudged the Man of the Series.

All courtesy :crickinfo