Wellington: New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor whispered a prayer and an apology to the late Martin Crowe Monday as he overtook his mentor’s century tally during an exceptional innings of 200 that put the Black Caps in a strong position in the second Test against Bangladesh.
Taylor’s 18th Test century, one more than Crowe laid the foundation for New Zealand’s 432/6 decl in the first innings of the rain-disrupted Test in Wellington.
At stumps, Bangladesh were reeling at 80/3 in their second innings, needing another 141 runs on the final day to make New Zealand bat again. Bangladesh have lost to New Zealand in the first Test by an innings and 52 runs.
The No.4’s sterling effort was his third Test double hundred and achieved his long-held ambition to fulfill Crowe’s prophecy that Taylor would one day overtake the late great batsman’s mark.
“I told Hogan (Crowe) ‘my apologies’ for taking so long to get there,” said Taylor who scored his 17th century in 2017, nearly two years after Crowe died from cancer.
“Seventeen was such a big number when I just started playing cricket. Once I got there it was probably a bit of a relief and then I didn’t kick on. It was probably a little in my subconscious.”
In the course of his innings, the right-hander also passed Crowe’s record for the most runs scored at the Basin Reserve. Taylor, who was dropped twice on 20, featured in a 172-run stand with Kane Williamson (74, 105b, 11×4, 1×6) for the third wicket and shared a 216-run partnership with Henry Nicholls (107, 129b, 9×4) for the fourth.
However, Williamson who now holds the New Zealand record for the most centuries with 20, injured his shoulder while batting and didn’t take the field for the rest of the day. He will have a MRI scan Tuesday.
Brief scores: Bangladesh 211 & 80/3 (Shadman Islam 29; Trent Boult 2/34); New Zealand 432/6 decl (Ross Taylor 200, Henry Nicholls 107). Match to continue.
