New Zealand opening batsman Peter Fulton expects for a better outing that will ensure them a win against the hosts in the second and final Test staring from tomorrow at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
The right-handed also expressed that they are looking forward to the wicket in Mirpur which they think will offer some turn to the spinners.
“We (New Zealand) are definitely keen to win the match," said Fulton to the media yesterday. “The wicket may turn more than it did in Chittagong. We are preparing for every scenario. It is not necessarily 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.
Earlier, the flat wicket at Chittagong’s Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium was frustrating for spinners of both the sides.
A draw loomed in Chittagong until Sohag Gazi's hat-trick on the final afternoon sparked hope for Bangladesh. In contrast, the New Zealand spinners, Bruce Martin and Ish Sodhi, were a work-in-progress throughout the Test as both were playing their first Test in the subcontinent. Fulton believes the bowlers need to be more patient.
“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. 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,” said Fulton.
The heat and the humidity have troubled the visitors since their arrival, but Fulton sees hard work and patience as the key for the success. His pair of fifties in the Chittagong Test were what gave the Kiwis a smooth start in both the innings.
“It is not easy to bat here with 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. Like all the guys, we adjusted little bit and found things a little bit easier," he said.
