Three big centuries from New Zealand’s top three took the hosts to their highest Test score as the home side ended day three of the first Test against Bangladesh in Hamilton in the driving seat.
Openers Tom Latham and Jeet Raval got the New Zealand innings off to a superb start, making their way past Bangladesh’s first innings total of 234 without the loss of a wicket.
Raval was the first wicket to fall with the score on 254, but not before going to his maiden Test century (132 off 220 balls) in his 28th Test innings to add to his seven Test half-centuries.
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Latham’s 161 was his ninth Test century in his 75th innings, with his last four knocks in Test cricket yielding scores of 264 not out, 10, 176 and 161 for a total of 661 runs at an average of 203,66.
Kane Williamson notched up his 20th Test century in his 126th innings and went on to reach 200 off 257 balls, at which point he declared his side’s innings closed. It was the second Test double century of his career, following his 242 not out against Sri Lanka in Wellington in 2015.
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The New Zealand tail wagged prodigiously as New Zealand powered their way to a score of 715-6 off 163 overs. Henry Nicholls (53 off 81 balls) and Neil Wagner (47 off 35) chipped in with well-played innings, while Colin de Grandhomme once again hit lustily to end unbeaten on 76 off just 53 balls (4×4, 5×6, S/R 143.39).
Highest teams innings totals in Test cricket
| Team | Score | Opposition | Ground | Match Date |
| Sri Lanka | 952/6d | India | Colombo (RPS) | 2 Aug 1997 |
| England | 903/7d | Australia | The Oval | 20 Aug 1938 |
| England | 849 | West Indies | Kingston | 3 Apr 1930 |
| West Indies | 790/3d | Pakistan | Kingston | 26 Feb 1958 |
| Pakistan | 765/6d | Sri Lanka | Karachi | 21 Feb 2009 |
| Sri Lanka | 760/7d | India | Ahmedabad | 16 Nov 2009 |
| India | 759/7d | England | Chennai | 16 Dec 2016 |
| Australia | 758/8d | West Indies | Kingston | 11 Jun 1955 |
| Sri Lanka | 756/5d | South Africa | Colombo (SSC) | 27 Jul 2006 |
| West Indies | 751/5d | England | St John’s | 10 Apr 2004 |
| West Indies | 749/9d | England | Bridgetown | 26 Feb 2009 |
| West Indies | 747 | South Africa | St John’s | 29 Apr 2005 |
| Australia | 735/6d | Zimbabwe | Perth | 9 Oct 2003 |
| Sri Lanka | 730/6d | Bangladesh | Dhaka | 27 Jan 2014 |
| Australia | 729/6d | England | Lord’s | 27 Jun 1930 |
| India | 726/9d | Sri Lanka | Mumbai (BS) | 2 Dec 2009 |
| New Zealand | 715/6d | Bangladesh | Hamilton | 28 Feb 2019 |
New Zealand’s 715-6 was their highest Test score, beating the 690 they racked up against Pakistan at Sharjah in 2014. In that match, Williamson scored 192 off 244 balls as part of a 297-run partnership for the second wicket with Brendon McCullum (202 off 188 balls).
At the close of day three, Bangladesh trailed by 307 runs with just 6 wickets remaining, as New Zealand look to complete a heavy innings defeat on the visitors.
Photo: Phil Walter/Getty Images
