Bangladesh’s first home Test victory New Zealand

2023.12.02

Taijul’s sensational six-for propels Bangladesh to a historic triumph, securing their maiden home Test victory against New Zealand.BCB

Taijul Islam had a match haul of 10 wickets as Bangladesh recorded one of their best Test victories.

Bangladesh’s totals of 310 and 338 (Shanto 105, Mushfiqur 67, Patel 4-149) defeated New Zealand’s totals of 317 and 181 (Mitchell 58, Southee 34, Taijul 6-75) by 150 runs.sportzlanka

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Taijul Islam authored one of Bangladesh’s most memorable Test triumphs, taking six wickets in the second innings to clinch a 10-wicket match total in helping Bangladesh defeat New Zealand by 150 runs at Sylhet.

On the fifth morning, the home team required 86 minutes to take the visitors’ remaining three wickets. Taijul got two of the three wickets that went as New Zealand scored 68 runs. Overnight on 113 for seven, with Daryl Mitchell the sole survivor from the top six, New Zealand needed a miracle to make it to the final day. It was also the first time throughout the game when the pitch bounced unevenly.

Mitchell was alert during his morning stay and also scored his eighth Test fifty. But his fight came to an end when he failed to properly connect a sweep off Nayeem Hasan, allowing Taijul a tumbling catch midway from deep square leg.

Tim Southee and Ish Sodhi then fought back for the following 52 deliveries till Southee surrendered a low catch to midwicket off Taijul’s ball. Southee hit a pair of sixes in his 24-ball 34 to pass Vivian Richards’ record of 84 Test sixes, and he is currently eighth on the list of hitters with the most Test sixes.

The game ended after Ish Sodhi attempted to block a Taijul delivery that twisted slightly but ended up giving foolish mid-off a simple catch. He needed 91 balls to get his 22.

Bangladesh presently has 12 points in the World Test Championship standings. Their only other WTC victory came against New Zealand in Mount Maunganui in early 2022.

On day four, New Zealand’s chances of winning faded. Shoriful had Tom Latham edge his pitched-up ball, which had moved away slightly, and Nurul Hasan dived low to his left to dismiss the opener for a duck. Williamson, who had struck his 29th Test century in the first innings, would be crucial to New Zealand’s strategy in the fourth Day.

However, Taijul grabbed the coveted wicket of Williamson, who was pulled forward on the defensive push only to have the spinning delivery strike his front leg. Williamson chose the review but shortly discovered that he was well ahead.

Henry Nicholls top-edged a sweep off Mehidy Hasan Miraz, only to be caught at short fine-leg by Nayeem Hasan. Devon Conway lasted more than an hour for his 22nd wicket before falling to Taijul. After the left-hander charged the left-arm spinner but only got an inside edge into his pad, Shahadat Hossain made the routine catch at short-leg. Tom Blundell appeared to be in trouble from the start and didn’t last long, edging the ball behind when he played one towards the leg side and the ball took his outside edge. In the 35th over, Nayeem caught Glenn Phillips lbw for 12, followed by Taijul trapping Kyle Jamieson lbw.

After being knocked out for 338 runs in their second innings, Bangladesh set New Zealand a 332-run mark in the fourth. Najmul Hossain Shanto’s century had placed the hosts in command.

@sportzlanka