Mirpur, Dec 6: Bangladesh took full control of the final test against New Zealand after 15 wickets fell on an eventful day one Wednesday as the hosts pursue a first ever test series win against the Kiwis.
The home side was all out for 172 but hit back strongly to reduce New Zealand to 55-5 in 12.4 overs before bad light forced stumps.
Both teams’ batters struggled on a wicket where most of the balls kept low and the bounce was uneven. The New Zealand bowling attack maintained a tight line and length to create pressure by conceding just eight runs in the first seven overs after Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto opted to bat first.
Left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner (3-31) and offspinner Glenn Phillips (3-65) shared six wickets to wreak havoc on the Bangladesh batting lineup. Ajaz Patel, another left-arm spinner, claimed 2-54 while skipper Tim Southee took one wicket without conceding a single run in 5.2 overs.
Mushfiqur Rahim made a team-high 35 before becoming the first Bangladeshi batter to be dismissed for handling the ball.While defending a delivery from fast bowler Kyle Jamieson, the team’s most experienced batter used his right hand to push the ball away even though it wasn’t close to the off-stump.After New Zealand appealed for the out, the third umpire checked and then gave him out for obstructing the field.
Bangladesh’s first boundary came in the eighth over when Zakir Hasan drove Patel through cover for four. The pressure eventually got the better of Zakir (8) when he played a rash shot against Santner and chipped it straight to mid-on.In the next over, Patel dismissed Mahmudul Hasan (14) after he was beaten by the drift to give a catch at short-leg.
Mominul Haque (5) was the next to go when he was caught behind off Patel’s bowling.But the biggest blow for Bangladesh followed in the next over when captain Najmul Hossain Shanto (9), who hit a century in the previous test, attempted a reverse sweep against Santner.The on-field Umpires turned down the appeal but New Zealand reviewed it successfully to leave Bangladesh 47-4. (AP)
