Sideline Sid Sports correspondent & historian www.sunlive.co.nz

Cricket grabbed Sideline Sid's attention from the opening ball of the Ashes Boxing Day test across the ditch, along with all the continual New Zealand Cricket action this side of the Tasman over the holiday season.

Our own Northern Brave men's team provided a fitting entree to the Black Caps test entrance on New Year's Day, with a thrilling win at the Bay Oval two days before Christmas.

Homegrown hero Trent Boult was the man of the moment, when he blasted a six of the last ball of the match against Canterbury, to give his side a dramatic one run victory.

Sideline Sid and Mrs Sid were amongst the early birds on the opening morning of the Black Caps test assignment against Bangladesh on the first day of the new year.

The parochial crowd of Black Caps fans had little indication that that they would bear witness to one of the biggest upsets in test cricket in recent times.

There were plenty of raised eyebrows when Bangladesh won the toss and asked New Zealand to bat, when convention at the Bay Oval says - win the toss and bat first.

The first day belonged to the home side with the Black Caps reaching 258 for the loss of five wickets.

Devon Conway posted the fifth test century at the Mount Maunganui ground in belting 122 runs before being dismissed.

Momentum quickly turned in the morning session on day two, with the Black Caps adding just 70 runs, being removed for 328.

The visitors determined reply saw them reach 175 for the loss of two wickets, at stumps on day two.

Day three resulted in a long day in the field for the home side, with temperatures climbing to 30 degrees, as Bangladesh were in control of the match in reaching 401/6 at stumps.

The opening session on the penultimate day resulted in Trent Boult and Tim South breaking through to get rid of the last four Bangladesh batters, as they posted a 130 run advantage.

Any Black Caps joy at bowling out their opponents disappeared when they were 147/5 at stumps.

Ebadot Hossain wrote his name into Bay Oval history, as he took the first international six wicket bag at the round, seizing six wickets at a cost of 46 runs.

Hossain will be well remembered for his coming to attention salute to celebrate his wickets.

New Zealand were bundled out for 169 in their second turn at bat, leaving Bangladesh just 40 runs to grab a historic upset victory.

General consensus from the cricket wise-heads at the ground, was that the Bangladesh bowlers pitched up the ball fuller and straighter than their opponents, with devastating effect.

The game was the first time that Bangladesh had beaten New Zealand at home, in any forms of the game, and the first time that they had beaten an ICC top-five team in test cricket.

P.S. Sweet revenge was the Black Caps only agenda in the second test of the two-match series, controlling the match from the opening ball, in Christchurch this week.

New Zealand batted first and declared at 521/6, with Tom Latham (252) belting the Black Caps tenth 250 (or better) test total.

Western Bay of Plenty bowling star Trent Boult, played a big part in removing Bangladesh for 109 in their first dig, taking 5/43, including becoming just the fourth New Zealand bowler to claim 300 test wickets.

Put back in, to follow on, Bangladesh made a more respectable showing before being bowled out for 278 to give the Black Caps a crushing innings and 117 run victory.