Taylor prays in quiet apology after passing Crowe's century mark

Ross Taylor whispered a prayer and an apology to the late Martin Crowe Monday as he overtook his mentor's century tally during an exceptional innings of 200 that put New Zealand in a strong position in the second Test against Bangladesh.

Taylor's 18th Test century, one more than Crowe laid the foundation for New Zealand's 432 for six declared in the first innings of the rain-disrupted Test in Wellington.

At stumps, Bangladesh were 80 for three in their second innings, needing another 141 runs on the final day to make New Zealand bat again. The number four's sterling effort was his third Test double hundred and achieved his long-held ambition to fulfil Crowe's prophecy that Taylor would one day overtake the late great batsman's mark.

"I told Hogan (Crowe) 'my apologies' for taking so long to get there," said Taylor who scored his 17th century in 2017, nearly two years after Crowe died from cancer.

"Seventeen was such a big number when I just started playing cricket. Once I got there it was probably a bit of a relief and then I didn't kick on. It was probably a little in my subconscious."