In a gripping display of spin bowling dominance, Bangladesh battled New Zealand’s relentless attack to end the opening day of the second Test on a competitive note at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.
Opting to bat first, Bangladesh faced a daunting challenge against New Zealand’s spinners. The hosts, despite a steady start provided by Zakir Hasan and Mahmudul Hasan Joy’s 29-run partnership, found themselves grappling against the Kiwi spin arsenal led by Glenn Phillips and Mitchell Santner.
The morning session saw both openers departing in quick succession, with Zakir Hasan falling prey to Santner’s cunning left-arm spin and Mahmudul Hasan Joy edging one to the short-leg fielder off Ajaz Patel’s delivery.
The Bangladesh batting order continued to face upheaval as Mominul Haque and Najmul Hossain Shanto succumbed in successive overs, leaving the Tigers reeling at 47-4. However, a resilient partnership between Mushfiqur Rahim and Shahadat Hossain Dipu helped stabilize the innings.
But the day was not without its moments of rarity as Mushfiqur Rahim scripted an unconventional exit, becoming the first Bangladeshi cricketer to be dismissed for obstructing the field in Test cricket, swatting a delivery wide of the wickets, resulting in his departure for 35 runs.
Despite the setbacks, a spirited effort by Shahadat Hossain Dipu, who scored 31 before falling to Phillips, and a determined stand by Mehedi Hasan Miraz (20) kept Bangladesh afloat, reaching 172 runs before the completion of their innings.
The pendulum swung fiercely in the final session as Bangladesh’s spinners, led by Taijul Islam and Mehedi Hasan Miraz, weaved their magic. New Zealand found themselves struggling at 55-5, losing key wickets including Kane Williamson and Tom Blundll, before bad light intervened to halt play for the day.
With Bangladesh leading by 117 runs and the visitors under pressure, day two promises an enthralling battle between bat and ball as both teams seek a crucial advantage in this gripping Test encounter.
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