MOUNT MAUNGANUI (NEW ZEALAND), Jan 5: Fast bowler Ebadot Hossain took a career-best 6-46 as Bangladesh beat World Test Champion New Zealand by eight wickets in the first cricket test Wednesday, capturing its first-ever win in New Zealand.
Ebadot had bowled Bangladesh to the brink of a famous victory by the end of the fourth day when he had figures of 4-39. He broke down the last of New Zealand’s resistance with two quick wickets as the Kiwis were dismissed in its second innings for 169, its lowest score against Bangladesh.
New Zealand trailed by 130 runs on the first innings, leaving Bangladesh to score only 40 for victory. It lost two wickets but captain Mominul Haque and Mushfiqur Rahim were at the crease when Bangladesh reached 42-2.
It was only Bangladesh’s sixth test win away from home and its first test win over a team ranked in the top 5. The result also brought to an end New Zealand’s 17 tests unbeaten streak in its last 17 tests at home.
Ebadot, a former volleyball player who became a test cricketer after winning a fast bowling competition, had only 11 test wickets at an average of 81 when he came into this match as Bangladesh’s third seamer.
He took 1-75 in New Zealand’s first innings of 328 but came into his own in the second innings, running through the middle order with the wickets of Devon Conway (13), Henry Nicholls (0), Tom Blundell (0) and Will Young (69). That left New Zealand 147-5 at the start of play Wednesday.
The possibility of any stern resistance by New Zealand, marshaled around veteran batsman Ross Taylor who was 37 not out when play began, quickly dissolved, thanks to Ebadot.
The tall right-armer, who snaps to attention and salutes when he takes a wicket, saluted twice when he bowled Taylor for 40. Then he dismissed Kyle Jamieson to leave New Zealand 160-7.
“It’s a long story, volleyball player to test cricketer,” Ebadot said. “But I’m a soldier of the Bangladesh Air Force and I know how to salute.’’
Taskin Ahmed then stepped in to help wrap up the New Zealand innings. He removed the other overnight batsman, allrounder Rachin Ravindra, for 16.
Taskin bowled Tim Southee (0) and Mehidy Hasan Miraz finished it off with the wicket of Trent Boult, who was caught at deep mid-wicket by Taijul Islam. (AP)
