January 2, 2022 media 0

Recent Match Report – New Zealand vs Bangladesh 1st Test 2021/22

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Century stand for the second wicket brings visitors to within 153 runs of New Zealand’s first-innings total in Mount Maunganui

Stumps Bangladesh 175 for 2 (Joy 70*, Shanto 64, Wagner 2-27) trail New Zealand 328 (Conway 122, Nicholls 75, Shoriful 3-69, Mehidy 3-86) by 153 runs

Bangladesh blended smart bowling with patient batting on the second day of the Mount Maunganui Test to keep things in their favour against New Zealand, who wouldn’t be too pleased with their first-innings score of 328, their lowest at home against Bangladesh. But what would have frustrated them more was seeing the visitors reach 175 for 2 at stumps, with Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mahmudul Hasan Joy bringing up half-centuries.

Bangladesh became only the second visiting team in the last eight years to bat more than 50 overs for the first two wickets in New Zealand. And by the end of the day, they were just 153 behind.

The Bangladesh openers, under fire after a poor Pakistan series, predictably began circumspectly.

Shadman Islam’s only forceful shot early on was an authoritative pull off Tim Southee, while Joy struck both his fours before the tea break behind the wicket. They lasted an hour together before Shadman fell for 18 off the first ball after the drinks break, when he chipped one back at Neil Wagner, who had to dive forward to complete the catch.

Shanto made a nervous start to his innings, getting struck on the stomach first ball before edging one, which fell short of first slip. At the other end, Joy struggled too, especially against the moving ball. He had luck on his side when Wagner chose not to review an lbw call that ended up showing three reds, perhaps believing it had taken the inside edge.

“It was quite windy today. There was a good noise. It sounded like an inside edge. I asked if he nicked it. The guys behind the stumps said no. Two guys from my end of the stumps said they heard a noise. They said he hit it,” Wagner explained after the day’s play. “I thought if he didn’t hit it, it was dead (plumb). We all made a collective decision. I think it is part of the game. The umpire also thought there was a noise so didn’t give it out. Unfortunately, from what I heard, it is the other way. I guess that’s how it goes.”

But Joy was solid with his defensive work, hardly playing at anything outside the off stump, and focusing on picking up runs on the on side whenever the bowlers strayed.

Shanto was the busier of the two batters, hitting 64 off 109 balls. He struck seven fours and a slog-swept six that brought up his half-century. He drove the ball well on both sides of the wicket, and his best shot was possibly the cut he played against Wagner, when he moved well outside his leg stump and threaded the ball through gully and point.

He fell in the last hour when Wagner got rid of him with a conventional outswinger coming from over the wicket. Shanto’s uppish drive was well caught at gully by Will Young.

Earlier in the day, New Zealand lost their last five wickets for 70 runs, with Mehidy Hasan Miraz picking up three of those. He had Kyle Jamieson caught at long-on, Southee at short midwicket, and Wagner caught behind in a burst that kept the home side on the back foot.

Henry Nicholls, who made 75 off 127 balls, struck 12 fours in a bid to counter-attack as wickets fell at the other end. He was the last man to go when he fell reverse-sweeping Mominul Haque, caught at short third-man.

Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo’s Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84

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