Top 5 cricketers of the week: 10th January to 16th January

#3 Tom Latham

Latham was at his best for New Zealand

At Basin Reserve, Wellington, Bangladesh were probably nursing hopes of winning a historic away Test against New Zealand at the end of the second day. Bangladesh posted a massive 595 in their first innings but thanks to Tom Latham, New Zealand salvaged themselves from a tricky situation.

Latham scored 177 helping New Zealand reach 539, just 56 short of the Bangladesh score. On what looked like a reasonably flat pitch in a match that was heading for a draw, Bangladesh capitulated under pressure in their second innings, to be dismissed for 160 in just 57.5 overs.

The Kiwis chased down the target of 217 thanks to a Kane Williamson century. But Latham deservedly won the Player of the Match award for making the win even remotely possible. The southpaw put on three half-century partnerships and a century partnership having opened the innings and departed at 398 for 6. This was the 24-year old’s sixth Test century.