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Pumped-up Tigers aim for monumental series win against Blackcaps
With the job half done, Bangladesh are all set to take on New Zealand from Sunday in the second Test of the series aiming to finish the job — to win their first-ever Test series against the Blackcaps.
The Tigers, who had no win in New Zealand despite playing a total of 32 matches across all the formats, won the first Test of the series in Tauranga by eight wickets.
Along with becoming their first-ever win in New Zealand, this win ended the drought of Bangladesh of not winning a Test against any of the top-five Test teams away from home.
Experts said it was one of the best things that Bangladesh have done in their cricketing history, though Masrhafe Bin Mortaza, the former captain of the Tigers is not a big fan of this idea. He rather said ‘not one of the best’, it actually is ‘the best-ever win’ of Bangladesh in cricket regardless of the formats.
Read: Bangladesh National Men's Cricket Team Schedules for 2022
Bangladesh allrounder Shakib Al Hasan echoed Mashrafe. To him, this win proved those who used to think that Bangladesh is unable to do big things sans the service of the big players wrong. Shakib pointed to the absence of himself and Tamim Iqbal in this series. While Tamim was left out due to an injury, Shakib skipped it citing family reasons.
“Bangladesh’s media fraternity used to say that the Bangladesh team is all about some four-five players, but it is proved wrong now. The young players are also capable of doing big things if they are given adequate chances,” Shakib said recently during a media interaction in Dhaka.
Bangladesh coach Russell Domingo believes the Tigers are pumped-up thanks to the win in the first match, and they are eager to create a new chapter of their history winning the second Test in a tougher condition in Christchurch which will surely offer a wicket with grass on it.
Given the current stats of Bangladesh in the longer format of the sport, one might say it’s a daydream of the Tigers to aim for a series win against New Zealand— the current champions of the ICC World Test Championship. But a win with the contribution from most players of the XI changed the atmosphere of the Bangladesh team.
Series win against New Zealand to inspire future Tigers: Domingo
Bangladesh head coach Russell Domingo said a series win against New Zealand will inspire the future generation of Bangladesh cricketers to do well in alien conditions.
He said the win in the first Test was the result of the hard work of the players over the last few months during their tough time.
Bangladesh are all set to take on New Zealand in the second Test on January 9 in Christchurch. The weather in Christchurch is cold and the wicket is also faster than the Tigers had one in Tauranga. So the second Test will be a tough one for the Tigers, believes Doming.
“They now want to do something that no other Bangladesh side has done before and that is to win a series in New Zealand. They are trying to do something very special that can inspire another generation of Bangladeshi cricketers,” Domingo said on Saturday ahead of the second Test.
Also read: Bangladesh Eye Historic Test Series Win in New Zealand
Right-arm fast bowler Ebadot Hossain was the main architect of Bangladesh’s maiden win against New Zealand at their home.
Bangladesh never won an international fixture in New Zealand despite playing 32 matches across formats before the first Test of the ongoing series.
“It’s been a very cool couple of days for the boys. The guys really enjoyed it because they know they had a hard time before in New Zealand. And New Zealand are one of the best sides in the world. You have to play really good cricket to compete with them and beat them. We had a tough few months in all formats,” Domingo added.
Ebadot averaged more than 80 before the first Test in Tauranga. Given his performance in Tests, he was the worst pacer in Bangladesh’s armory. But now, he has become the fast-bowling sensation in Bangladesh, and probably, in the other parts of the cricketing world as well.
Domingo said it was a reward for Ebadot and for the hard work he has done over the last few years.
Also read: Five Defining Moments of Bangladesh’s Historic Test Victory Over New Zealand
Bangladesh are expecting a tougher challenge in Christchurch where they have to negotiate with a faster wicket and challenging condition. But Domingo believes the boys are pumped up to the challenge.
“It’s not often when Bangladeshi pacers can hope for the wicket with some grass on it,” he said. “We have also got some quality bowlers in the squad. We have three high-quality bowlers and they are pretty confident. If we do get early wickets hopefully we can do some damage.”
Along with Ebadot, Taskin Ahmed and Shorfiul Islam have also put their best foot forward in the first match taking three wickets each. Domingo said if they can come up together it will be tough for the hosts to earn an easy win against the confident Tigers.
This series is a part of the ongoing World Test Championship. In the previous cycle of this event, Bangladesh failed to win any match while they also had a bad start to the new cycle when they lost to Pakistan at home. But they bounced back strongly in New Zealand, and for the first time, they are hoping to win a series against the Blackcaps in New Zealand— a rare fate for any Asian team.
Bangladesh Eye Historic Test Series Win in New Zealand
As Bangladesh won the first Test against New Zealand in Mount Maunganui, history can be repeated in Christchurch. An inexperienced team snatched an unprecedented victory for Bangladesh which has motivated Team Tigers to upset the host Blackcaps in the second Test at the Hagley Oval. Not to mention, the Kiwis will fight heart and soul to level the series by avenging their loss in the opening match. On the other hand, Bangladesh aspire to win their first Test series against New Zealand. Let's have a look at the preview for the second Test between New Zealand and Bangladesh.
New Zealand vs Bangladesh 2nd Test Match Preview
Some important feats were broken following Bangladesh's historic Test match victory against New Zealand in the series opener. Prior to that win, team Tigers had lost 32 games in all formats against the Blackcaps in New Zealand. Besides, Bangladesh had to wait for 16 matches to beat New Zealand in a Test match for the first time. New Zealand had gone 17 games without losing before facing Bangladesh in the first Test of the ongoing series. It was against South Africa in 2017 that they last lost a home Test series. As a result, they are in danger of losing their first home Test series in five years. Bangladesh will win the series 1-0 if the second Test ends in a draw. The second match will begin at 4 a.m. (Bangladesh Standard Time) on Sunday.
Read Five Defining Moments of Bangladesh’s Historic Test Victory Over New Zealand
New Zealand
The way in which New Zealand performed in the first Test was upsetting for the team. New Zealand should have won the match despite the fact that the surface was favorable to the batters. However, Bangladesh's fast bowlers were outstanding throughout the match. They bowled New Zealand out twice in the match and clinched a historic victory over them.
The New Zealand campaign must reflect on what went wrong in the first match and try to find a solution in order to rectify their mistakes in the do-or-die second Test.
New Zealand batters Latham, Nicholls, and Ross Taylor failed to motivate the batting unit in the absence of regular leader Kane Williamson. Conway scored a century in the first innings but fell short in the crucial second innings.
Read Bangladesh National Men's Cricket Team Schedules for 2022
In the bowling department, Jamieson, Wagner, and Southee were not in their usual lethal form, which allowed Bangladesh to bat for a long time in the first innings (176.2 overs, their second-highest in away Tests).
The faster bowlers will benefit from the Christchurch pitch, and everyone knows how deadly Kiwi bowlers can be on a green surface. More crucially, New Zealand players have a strong track record in Christchurch, where they dominate the bowling and batting charts. Therefore, New Zealand will be hoping for a great comeback in order to save the series.
Top 3 most wicket-takers at the Hagley Oval (Test)
Player
Match
Wickets
BBI
BBM
Ave
Trent Boult
8
48
6/30
9/107
21.52
Tim Southee
8
39
6/62
8/142
21.56
Neil Wagner
7
25
6/106
7/166
26.48
Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/
Top 3 most run-scorers at the Hagley Oval (Test)
Player
Match
Runs
HS
Ave
100
Tom Latham
8
612
176
43.71
1
Kane Williamson
8
574
238
44.15
1
Henry Nicholls
7
489
162*
54.33
2
Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/
Probable Playing XI
Top Order: Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Will Young, Middle-Order: Henry Nicholls, Ross Taylor, Tom Blundell, Daryl Mitchell, Lower-Order: Kyle Jamieson, Neil Wagner, Tim Southee, Trent Boult.
Read BPL 2022: The Favourites, Outsiders and Underdogs
Bangladesh
Bangladesh's young Test team surprised the cricket world with their steady performance in the first Test match against New Zealand. Bangladesh can take a lot of positives away from this encounter. The most vital one is that pace bowlers had shown encouraging bowling displays all throughout the game. Pacer Ebadot Hossain had the worst bowling average prior to this match but he dramatically improved his Test stats with a match-winning bowling performance in the second innings. Taskin Ahmed has improved as a Test bowler, while left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam has demonstrated his bowling potential. In short, pace bowlers were just excellent in the competition.
Newcomer Mahmudul Hasan Joy had displayed great patience with the bat. The batting technique of Nazmul Hossain and Liton Das was flawless. In addition, skipper Mominul Haque played a key role by forming a strong partnership with Liton Das in the first innings. Bangladesh's overall team performance was brilliant.
Bangladesh would be obliged to make one change in the playing XI for the second Test due to Mahmudul Hasan Joy's unexpected injury. Mohammad Naim is most likely to take his position in the final encounter of the series.
Read BPL 2022: Five Promising Young Players to Watch
Probable Playing XI
Top Order: Shadman Islam, Mohammad Naim, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Middle-Order: Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Yasir Ali Chowdhury, Liton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Lower-Order: Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Ebadot Hossain
What Should be Bangladesh’s Game Strategy
Bangladesh's batters will face even more tough competition in the second Test because of the pace-friendly pitch in Christchurch. However, it would be an ideal pitch for Bangladesh pacers to perform to their full potential in the match. They will have to shoulder most of the responsibility to win the series.
On the other hand, batters must be even more cautious in their approach and batting technique. The Tigers will be able to seize control of the game if they score big in the first innings. Bangladesh may accomplish their goal with adequate planning and commitment.
Read ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2022: SWOT Analysis of Bangladesh Team
Team-wise Test Records in Christchurch
Team
Match
Won
Lost
Draw
New Zealand
8
6
1
1
Pakistan
2
0
2
0
Sri Lanka
2
0
2
0
Australia
1
1
0
0
England
1
0
0
1
Bangladesh
1
0
1
0
India
1
0
1
0
Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/
Probable Playing XI
Top Order: Shadman Islam, Mohammad Naim, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Middle-Order: Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Yasir Ali Chowdhury, Liton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Lower-Order: Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Ebadot Hossain.
Read BPL 2022: SWOT Analysis of all Six Teams
New Zealand vs Bangladesh: Head-to-Head Test Stats
Bangladesh and New Zealand have faced each other in 16 matches. Bangladesh won its first-ever Test match against New Zealand in the opening game of the ongoing series in Mount Maunganui. Overall, New Zealand have won 12 games, Bangladesh have won one, and the remaining three games have ended in a draw. Bangladesh will play a Test match in Christchurch for the second time. They played New Zealand in a Test at the Hagley Oval in 2017, which they lost by 9 wickets.
New Zealand vs Bangladesh 2nd Test Match: Pitch Report and Weather Forecast
The Hagley Oval in Christchurch will most likely be a pace-friendly surface. Therefore, batters must remain patient at the crease, as quicker bowlers are likely to get seam movement throughout the game. The weather forecast suggests that the temperature would be a little milder on the first day. The final two days are scheduled to be rainy, but the match is expected to go on to the end. Bangladesh played a match against New Zealand in Christchurch back in 2017 and they lost the encounter by 9 wickets.
Verdict
New Zealand are a tough opponent in Christchurch. Their record against Sub-Continent teams at the Hagley Oval is particularly impressive. Therefore, beating New Zealand on this particular ground will be a huge challenge for Bangladesh. However, this Bangladeshi team is extremely driven right now and believes that they can beat any major Test side in the world. In this regard, the second Test match between New Zealand and Bangladesh is likely to be competitive.
Read NZ vs BAN Test Series 2022: Five Bangladesh Players to keep an eye on
It’s wrong that we have no player sans big guns: Shakib
Bangladesh allrounder Shakib Al Hasan has trashed the idea of the country not having any good players except the big guns.
The allrounder talked to the media on Friday while attending a ceremony of a cellular operator in Dhaka. Shakib signed an agreement with the operator as a brand ambassador.
Read:Mashrafe starts bowling but uncertain about BCL 50-over
“The media thinks there is no player without some four or five players, I think it’s been proved wrong by now,” Shakib told the media. “If the new guys get a chance, they can prove their mettle.”
Bangladesh team is receiving an enormous amount of praise from different parts of the cricketing world for their victorious display in the first Test against New Zealand recently. They beat the Blackcaps in their own backyard by eight wickets— Bangladesh’s first win in New Zealand in any format of the sport.
“The way we started the new year is incredible,” Shakib added. “We have to give credit to every player, support personnel and all. We have failed to do well last year, and some big challenges are coming in this year.”
Young players like Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Shoriful Islam and Ebadot Hossian have done well in this match. Shoriful bagged three wickets in the first innings, while Ebadot bagged six in the second— his best in the format, and it was the first time after 2013 when a Bangladeshi pacer bagged five or more wickets in a Test. And Mahmudul hit 78 in the first innings, playing in his second match.
Read:Five Defining Moments of Bangladesh’s Historic Test Victory Over New Zealand
Shakib is not participating in the New Zealand series for family reasons. He was included in the team initially, but the allrounder later withdrew from the squad citing family reasons and difficulties he faces in strict quarantine.
The allrounder is expected to take part in the 50-over edition of the Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) starting from January 9 in Sylhet.
Fed Cup Football: Dhaka Abahani, Rahmatganj MFS reach final
Independence Cup champions Dhaka Abahani Ltd and Rahmatganj MFS reached the final of the Bashundhara Group Federation Cup Football Tournament eliminating Saif SC and Dhaka Mohammedan in the semifinals at the Bir Shreshta Shaheed Shipahi Mohammad Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Kamalapur on Thursday.
Eleven-time champions Dhaka Abahani Limited eliminated last year’s finalists Saif Sporting Club by 4-3 goals in tie breaker as the 2nd semifinal match was locked in 2-2 goals in the regulation time and also ended in 3-3 goals in the extras time Thursday night.
The old Dhaka outfit Rahmatganj MFS, coming from behind booked a seat for the final for the 2nd occasions shocking 10 times champions Dhaka Mohammedan SC by 2-1 goals in the first semifinal Thursday afternoon.
The two teams will play final on Sunday (Jan 9) at the same venue.
In the day’s 2nd semis, Brazilian booter cum Abahani captain Raphael Augusto put Abahani ahead in the 10th minute from a penalty (1-0) while Nigerian booter Sunday Udoh restored the parity for Saif SC in the 20th minute (1-1)
Nigerian striker Emeka put Saif SC ahead from behind in the 75th minute from a penalty (2-1) while Russian World Cup playing Costa Rica booter Daniel Colindres equalized the margin in the stoppage time of the regulation period (90+3 minute) to lock the match 2-2 in the stipulated period.
Fed Cup Football: Rahmatganj MFS reach final shocking Mohammedan SC 2-1
Coming from behind, Rahmatganj MFS reached the final of the Bashundhara Group Federation Cup Football Tournament for the 2nd occasion shocking 10 times champions Dhaka Mohammedan SC by 2-1 goal in the first semifinal at the Bir Shreshta Shaheed Shipahi Mohammad Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Kamalapur on Thursday.
The old Dhaka outfit Rahmatganj Muslim Friends Society also qualified for the Federation Cup Football final in 2019-20 football season eliminating Dhaka Mohammedan SC in the semifinal.
Traditional Mohammedan SC, which poised for the final after a long gap of 12 years eliminating Chittagong Abahani by 2-1 goal in the quarterfinal, this time failed to reach their long-cherished target eliminating from the semifinal on Thursday.
In the day’s first semifinal, Defender Rajib Hossain put the traditional black and white Mohammedans ahead in the very 5th minute (1-0) and they maintained the lead till 77th minute of the match.
But, the Ghanian forward Philip Adjah Tettey, who scored twice against Sheikh Russel KC in the quarterfinal, scored the match equalizer for Rahmatganj in the 78th minute (1-1).
Mashrafe starts bowling but uncertain about BCL 50-over
Former Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza started practice at Mirpur Thursday ahead of the 50-over edition of the Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) amid uncertainty about participation.
The 38-year-old pacer played his last competitive cricket match back in December, 2020. He had been out of cricket since due to his political commitments as a member of Bangladesh parliament.
“Just bowled a few deliveries with a short run-up,” Mashrafe told the media, adding that he has been undergoing a rehabilitation programme. “I have been suffering from a bit of back pain. It will take a little time to get rid of it. But I started slowly.”
Also read: BCL Final: Mithun hits maiden double ton
Mashrafe hoped he can start bowling with full run-up by next week.
The veteran bowler will represent Dhaka team in the upcoming edition of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) starting from January 21.
The former captain praised the Test team for their historic win over New Zealand this week. Masrahfe rated it as the biggest win of Bangladesh in cricket so far.
“I don’t like to say it's ‘one of the best wins’, it’s actually the best win to me,” he said. “New Zealand are the champions of the Test. We don’t have our best players in this series. If you keep these things in mind, it was our best win ever.”
Also read: BCL Cricket: Central Zone require 192 runs against South Zone on final day
According to Masrhafe, Bangladesh’s pace-bowling unit is flourishing slowly in every format of the game. He said what Ebadot Hossain has done in the first Test against New Zealand was a result of his long struggle.
“If you see our T20Is stats, our pacers have done well there. Test was the format where our pacers struggled for a long time unlike T20Is and ODIs. We have to work harder for that. If you look at Taskin (Ahmed), he has started doing well. Ebadot already displayed what he is capable of. And Rahi (Abu Jayed) has been doing well too. We have to believe them more, and it will eventually help them to become even more effective in Tests.”
After winning the first Test by a big margin of eight wickets, which was Bangladesh’s maiden Test win over New Zealand and first by any Asian Team in New Zealand after 2013, Bangladesh are now gearing up for the second Test which will begin in Christchurch on January 9.
BCL Final: Hom guides Central Zone to Home
Despite five of the top six batters returning with single-digit scores, Walton Central Zone chased a target of 218 to win this year’s Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) on Thursday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
They beat BCB South Zone by four wickets riding on the superb fourth-innings hundred by veteran allrounder Shuvagata Hom.
He smashed match-winning 114 under immense pressure. He also had a century in the first innings. Overall, he amassed 230 in the final and expectedly won the player of the match award.
It was the third time Walton Central Zone won the BCL title.
Read: BCL Cricket: Central Zone require 192 runs against South Zone on final day
They won the inaugural edition of the event in the season of 2012-13. South Zone won the next two seasons before Central Zone won it again in the 2015-16 season. North Zone won their first title in the 2016-17 season before South Zone won it three consecutive times afterwards. Now, their winning streak came to an end finally thanks to wonderful batting effort from Shuvagata.
In the way of chasing down the target of 218, Central Zone lost six wickets inside 68 runs. It was just a matter of time for them to capitulate to the South Zone at that stage. But Hom was rigid with the bat. He was too good for South Zone bowlers.
Eventually, Central Zone scored 221 for six in 63.5 overs to seal the match and event.
For South Zone, Mehedi Hasan Rana and Nasum Ahmed bagged two wickets each while Farhad Reza and Kamrul Islam Rabbi took one wicket each.
Earlier, South Zone ended their second innings at 268 thanks to an incredible batting display by Rishad Hossain. The leg-spinner came up with the bat to rescue the team who had lost five for 70. Rishad scored 99— fell short of a single from his maiden First-class century.
Read: BCL: Central Zone and South Zone march to final
Abu Hider Rony scalped five wickets for Central Zone while Hasan Murad, Mukidul Islam, and Soumya Sarkar and Taibur Rahman took one wicket each.
The teams which took part in the BCL longer version will now take on each other in the BCL 50-over from January 9. The event will kick off in Sylhet.
Bangladesh National Men's Cricket Team Schedules for 2022
Bangladesh kicked up their 2022 international campaign with a thrilling away-from-home Test match victory over New Zealand. They will play one more match on this trip, which starts on Sunday, January 9 in Christchurch. Bangladesh will complete the remainder of their ICC Test Championship schedule this year, which comprises five series. In addition, the Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup are two of Bangladesh's major competitions this year. Let's take a look at the Bangladesh Men's Cricket Team's schedules for 2022.
Bangladesh National Cricket Team Fixtures for 2022
Bangladesh's national men's cricket team will enjoy a full international calendar this year, much as it had in 2021. Here are the tentative 2022 cricket fixtures for the national Men’s team.
2-match Test Series against New Zealand (Away)
Bangladesh are presently facing New Zealand in their second series in the ongoing ICC Test Championship. Bangladesh are scheduled to play two Test matches during the tour. Team Tigers have already defeated the Kiwis in the series opener, winning by eight wickets. As a result of the victory, Bangladesh have moved up to fifth place in the Test Championship points standings. The second match will be held at Christchurch's Hagley Oval.
Read Five Defining Moments of Bangladesh’s Historic Test Victory Over New Zealand
Limited-Over Series against Afghanistan (Home)
Bangladesh have a home series against Afghanistan slated for February. Bangladesh will face Afghanistan in three one-day internationals and two Twenty20 internationals, according to sources. The series will begin shortly after the BPL 2022 competition.
Test and ODI Series against South Africa (Away)
Bangladesh will go to South Africa for a bilateral series in March after finishing the Afghanistan series. Team Tigers will play two ICC Test Championship matches and three One-Day Internationals during the tour. According to the schedule, three one-day internationals will be played on March 18, 20, and 23, followed by the first Test (30 March – 3 April) and the second Test (7-11 April).
Read Roaring Tigers Script Groundbreaking History in New Zealand
Test Series against Sri Lanka (Home)
Bangladesh are expected to host Sri Lanka for a two-match Test series in May, subject to mutual agreement between the two boards. If everything goes according to plan, the series will be part of the current ICC Test Championship.
Test, ODI, and T20I Series against West Indies (Away)
Bangladesh are slated to play a three-format series against the West Indians in the June-July window. During the tour, they will play three ODIs and three T20Is as well as two Test matches, which will be a part of the ICC Test Championship.
Test, ODI, and T20I Series against Zimbabwe (Home)
In August, Bangladesh will host Zimbabwe for a two-match Test series, followed by three one-day internationals and three Twenty20 internationals.
Read Tigers script history by registering first Test win against Kiwis in NZ
Asia Cup 2022
Due to a tight international schedule and covid-19 complications, the 2021 Asia Cup was canceled. The competition will take place this year, and the 2022 Asia Cup will most likely be staged in Sri Lanka in the month of September. The main tournament will include six teams, including Bangladesh. The upcoming edition will be in T20 format.
Test, ODI, and T20I Series against Ireland (Away)
There is a scheduled away series against Ireland in October. However, the possibility of a tour is still clouded. If all goes according to plan, Ireland will host one Test, three One-Day Internationals, and three Twenty-20 Internationals.
ICC Men’s Cricket T20 World Cup 2022
Sixteen nations, including Bangladesh, will compete in the T20 World Cup in Australia in the October-November window. Bangladesh will directly compete in the Super 12s Round of the eighth edition of the ICC Men's Cricket T20 World Cup. The national men's team will play at least five matches during the big event.
Read BPL 2022: The Favourites, Outsiders and Underdogs
Test and ODI Series against India (Home)
The Bangladesh national team will host India in a bilateral series in December 2022. Team Tigers will play two ICC Test Championship matches and three One-Day Internationals during India’s tour of Bangladesh. This will most likely be Bangladesh's final ICC Test Championship series in the 2021-2023 cycle.
Bottom Line
According to the schedules of the Bangladesh Men's Cricket Team, they are expected to play more than 50 international matches in 2022. Bangladesh may play 13 Tests, 18 One-Day Internationals, and roughly 20 Twenty20 Internationals this year. The majority are likely to be held as planned despite not all of the series have been confirmed yet. In this regard, the Bangladesh national team has a busy international calendar this year and national team players must be fully fit in order to compete in the upcoming fixtures.
Read BPL 2022: Five Promising Young Players to Watch
Five Defining Moments of Bangladesh’s Historic Test Victory Over New Zealand
Every cricket fan in the world is now wondering how Bangladesh were able to pull off such an incredible triumph away from home against the reigning ICC World Test Champions New Zealand. Those who didn't pay attention to the contest were certainly astonished by the outcome. The truth is that Bangladesh dominated for five days and earned a well-deserved victory over New Zealand in the series-opening Test in Mount Maunganui. Let's take a deeper look at the five defining moments in Bangladesh's historic win over New Zealand.
Five Pivotal Moments of New Zealand-Bangladesh First Test
There were a few crucial moments during the first Test between New Zealand and Bangladesh at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui. Those important moments aided Bangladesh in securing a stunning victory in the contest. Here are the match's five key moments.
Bangladesh pacers domination in the first session of the match
As the phrase goes, morning shows the day, that's exactly what transpired in the first session of this match. Bangladesh's captain Mominul Haque won the toss and asked New Zealand to bat first. Thankfully, Bangladesh pacers came out with a lot of intensity and, more importantly, a well-thought-out strategy.
The accuracy of the Shoriful-Taskin pace bowling pair was absolutely fantastic, making life difficult for the Kiwi top order. Bangladesh only grabbed one wicket in the first session, and New Zealand were 66/1 at lunch. However, the Bangladesh bowling team surprised the Kiwi campaign with their outstanding performance. Their effort set the tone for the remainder of the match for Bangladesh.
Read Roaring Tigers Script Groundbreaking History in New Zealand
The steadfast batting of Mahmudul Hasan
Young Mahmudul Hasan Joy was brilliant with the bat in the first innings. He was tenacious and adamant about holding his grip on the crease. Mahmudul played 228 balls in his 78-run innings, demonstrating his vigilance in the middle. His batting style encouraged the other batters to be more competitive at the crease. Therefore, Mahmudul Hasan's knock was one of the turning points in the match.
An effective partnership between Mominul and Liton
Bangladesh were down to 203/4 at one point in the first innings. Bangladesh needed a big partnership to take control of the contest. Mominul Haque and Liton Das achieved just that in the fifth wicket. They put up 158 runs for the fifth wicket, allowing Bangladesh to build a comfortable lead in the first innings. Nonetheless, it was disappointing to see both batsmen lose out on a Test century while being in a good position. However, the Mominul-Liton stand was a major deciding factor in the contest.
Read BPL 2022: The Favourites, Outsiders and Underdogs
Ebadot’s bowling charisma in the final hour of day 4
Pacer Ebadot Hossain was strongly criticized for not bowling to his full potential. Critics slammed him for not thinking much during the first innings while bowling. The right-handed medium-pacer silenced his doubters by bowling superbly in New Zealand's second innings. He came out with a lot of intensity and took up four key wickets in the third session of day-4. Thanks to his exceptional bowling, New Zealand were reduced to 147/5 in 63 overs, gaining just a 17-run lead at the end of day-4. Bangladesh's prospects of winning the match significantly improved after a fantastic bowling effort by the bowling unit.
The bowlers finish the job in the first hour of the fifth day
Bangladesh were required to wrap up New Zealand's second innings as soon as possible for a low-run chase. Bowlers were even more determined in the final day's opening session. Bangladesh took all of New Zealand's wickets in just 10.3 overs. Ebadot Hossain and Taskin Ahmed struck again, dismissing New Zealand for 169 runs. Bangladesh just needed to chase down 40 runs to win a historic match against New Zealand, thanks to their outstanding performance. So, Bangladesh's discipline and inspirational bowling in the morning session of day five was one of the match’s pivotal moments.
Read BPL 2022: Five Promising Young Players to Watch
Aftermath
Considering the Bangladesh cricket team's recent poor performance on the international stage, no one expected Bangladesh to win the first Test of the two-match series against New Zealand. However, a young and inexperienced Bangladesh team showed in the match that they can stun big teams anywhere in the world in cricket's most prestigious format. This victory would instill confidence in the current group of national team cricketers, allowing them to perform well in the upcoming Test fixtures in 2022. Furthermore, this triumph will serve as a stepping stone for future generations of cricketers.