New Zealand batsman Peter Fulton said on Wednesday that the local conditions were a challenge for the visitors going into the second and final Test match against Bangladesh, scheduled to get underway from Monday. The 34-year-old Kiwi opener, who struck twin fifties in the first Test in Chittagong, opined that heat was a major factor ahead of the series-deciding Test match at Mirpur.
‘It is not easy to bat here in the heat. You have to work hard for runs. We have to get off to a good start which will set the team up for a result. I found it hard in the first innings with the heat,’ said Fulton.
‘Like all the guys, we adjusted little bit and found things a little bit easier.’
After a high-scoring draw in the first Test match in which both the sides were at ease with the batting-friendly wicket in the port-city, Fulton said that he was expecting a similar track at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
Fulton, who has two centuries to his name in 16 Test matches, also said that his side will be targeting a series win.
‘We are definitely keen to win the match. I am sure Bangladesh will also be keen. So regardless of the wicket, both teams will try to get a result. We are preparing for every scenario,’ said Fulton.
‘It is not very easy to get results. Five days is a long time in a Test match. If we improve on our first Test performance, we can get a result,’ he added.
‘It looks very dry, not a lot of grass on it. It is similar to the Chittagong [wicket], preparing it to be low and slow. The wicket may turn more than it did in Chittagong.’
The Bangladesh spinners, who accounted for 16 of the 17 New Zealand wickets that fell in the first Test, are also expected to play a similarly significant role in the second Test. Fulton went on to say that the Kiwi spinners can take a leaf out of Bangladesh’s book and remain patient throughout the Test.
‘The Bangladesh spinners bowled well, as we expected them to. They kept it quite tight. They probably came into it a bit more on the last day when we were pushing for a declaration,’ said Fulton.
‘Our spinners got better as the game went on. They can learn from the first Test. As a bowling unit, if we can be patient for a little bit longer, we will pick up wickets,’ he added.
-With New Age input
