Bangladesh
paid a rich tribute to Ross Taylor and won hearts for their gesture towards the
veteran New Zealand batter as he walked out to bat in the second and final Test at the Hagley Oval, Christchurch.
Bangladesh cricketers, in a badge of honour to Taylor, put on a guard of honour
welcoming the batter to the crease.

Also Read: NZ vs Ban: Ross Taylor goes past Stephen Fleming ‘s record in farewell Test

The
37-year-old cricketer lasted for 39 deliveries as he scored 28 runs before
being dismissed by Ebadot Hossain on Monday. Taylor is unlikely to get another
opportunity to bat in the second innings as Bangladesh have been bowled out for
126 in reply to New Zealand’s first innings total of 521 for 6.

Also Read: NZ vs Ban: Ross Taylor goes past Stephen Fleming ‘s record in farewell Test

As Taylor
got out and started walking, several Bangladesh cricketers approached him and
congratulated him. Taylor will retire as New Zealand’s top scorer in Test and ODI. He has scored 7,656 Test runs and 19 centuries and 8,576 runs in ODIs, ahead of Stephen Fleming (8,037). His 21 ODI centuries also are a New Zealand record.

Last month,
Taylor announced that the Bangladesh series will be his last international
assignment in Test cricket and he would hang his boots playing Australia in
Australia and the Netherlands at home. On April 4, at his home town in
Hamilton, Taylor will bid adieu to international cricket playing the third and
final ODI of the limited-overs series against the Netherlands.

Also Read: Ross Taylor to retire: A look at his major records

On the second day of the match, New Zealand
declared their first innings on 521/6. Bangladesh, who defeated New Zealand in
the first Test, got some reality check when Trent Boult ran through their top order,
reducing the visitors to 109 for 6. Boult, playing his 75 Test, also reached
the milestone of 300 Test wickets when he dismissed Mehidy Hasan. While
achieving the milestone, Boult took a fifer as Bangladesh were bowled out for 126.

Dale Steyn to Harbhajan Singh: 5 cricketers who announce retirement in 2021

Earlier,
stand-in captain Tom Latham led from the front and completed his second double
hundred in Test cricket. Latham was eventually dismissed for 252. He was aided by
centurion Devon Conway, who scored 109 before getting run out. Tom Blundell,
batting at No. 7 smashed a 60-ball 57 with eight boundaries to take New Zealand
beyond the 500-run mark before Latham called Blundell and Kyle Jamieson back to the pavilion.