Najmul, ablaze with determination, dominates the spin in the opening session.
Embarking on November 28, New Zealand and Bangladesh are set to engage in their inaugural Test match within the esteemed World Test Championship, hosted at the illustrious Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. Following a favorable coin toss outcome, Bangladesh elected to take the batting initiative, with Najmul Hasan Shanto assuming the captaincy reins for the first time in the annals of Test cricket history.
Mahamudul Hasan Joy hit a boundary off Tim Southee’s first over as Bangladesh opened the game with ease, leaving and playing strokes against the Kiwi pacers with good judgement. Zakir Hasan was almost pinned off the second ball by the returning Kyle Jamieson, but he missed a flick, and Hasan gained an inside edge on the attempted leg glance, giving him a life against the new ball. As a result, New Zealand lost the review.
After the two effectively navigated ten overs of pace, Ajaz Patel entered the field to bowl some left-arm spin. After Ajaz Patel introduced spin, Zakir Hasan was dismissed in nine balls after being beaten on the cut by Patel.
With all of his might, Najmul declared that Bangladesh would not be defeated at their own game: spin. Consequently, Shanto faced Ajaz and hit three sixes before losing to Glenn Phillips’ off-spin at the start of lunch. They went into the break in a balanced position, Bangladesh 104/2,with Mahmudul still undefeated at 42 and Mominul Haque having recently joined him, but it was Najmul who had made a statement with his aggressive innings in his first outing as Bangladesh captain.
Score Summery
Bangladesh 104/2 (Mahmudul Hasan Joy 42*, Najmul Hossain Shanto 37, Glenn Phillips 1-12)vs New Zealand.
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