Online Desk :

Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam put Bangladesh on the verge of a famous victory against New Zealand in the two-match series opening cricket Test with another gem of spin bowling at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today. Failing to neutralize Taijul’s threat, New Zealand were at knife-edge of a defeat as they were reduced to 113-7 at stumps on day four, while chasing a victory target of 332. With three wickets at hands, the visitors still need 219 for an unlikely victory. On increasingly deteriorating pitch, it’s an improbable task. Daryl Mitchell batted patiently to end the day on 44, with Ish Sodhi on 7. Opener Devon Conway made next-best 22. Offspinners Mehidy Hasan (1-31) and Nayeem Hasan (1-24) played a perfect foil to Taijul to further trouble the New Zealand batters.

Bangladesh which were bowled out for 310 in its first innings, put up 338 in the second innings before being all out. New Zealand were bundled out for 317. The first breakthrough for Bangladesh came from an unlikely source as pacer Shoriful Islam struck in the very first over when Tom Latham edged a delivery to wicket-keeper Nurul Hasan Sohan for a duck. Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam who claimed 4-109 in the first innings got the prized scalp of Kane Williamson who made just 11, trapping him leg-before to leave New Zealand 19-2. Bangladesh were hugely pumped up by getting the big wicket of Williamson early, considering the fact that the batter has unarguably been the best against spin attack in the world.

Williamson’s first-innings 104 was key in keeping the Kiwis in the Test in a pitch, where no New Zealand batters other than him could get past 50. Miraz then put Bangladesh firmly on top, taking out Henry Nicholls for 2 as New Zealand stuttered at 30-3 in 13th over. Opener Devon Conway was playing with positive intent with wickets falling around him. He perfectly swept the spinners to keep the scoreboard moving before Taijul had him caught by Shahadat Hossain at short leg. With New Zealand at 46-4, the onus was on Mitchell but he found little support from other end.

Wicket-keeper batter Tom Blundell (6) was stifled by Taijul before edging a turning delivery behind before Nayeem pegged back the visitors further reviewing one successfully to remove Glenn Phillips. Soon after when Taijul got the better of Kyle Jamieson (7), Bangladesh got a sniff to wrap up New Zealand innings on day four. But Mitchell and Sodhi survived a tricky 30 minutes before the bad light forced the stumps. Earlier, Miraz was key in helping Bangladesh take the lead past 300, scoring a 50 not out. New Zealand got a breakthrough in just second over of the day when skipper Tim Southee had Najmul Hossain Shanto caught down the leg side after Bangladesh resumed the day on 212-3. The Bangladesh captain was dismissed for 105, adding just one run to his overnight score as his 98-run partnership with Mushfiqur Rahim came to an end.

Soon after Mushfiqur raised his 27th half-century off 79 balls, with an outsides-edged two against Southee. But he failed to convert it to a hundred when left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel

trapped him in front, removing him for 67 off 116. Leg-spinner Ish Sodhi got the better of debutant Shahadat Hossain for 18 to expose Bangladesh’s tail. Nurul Hasan (10) played a chancy innings before he was caught and bowled by offspinner Glenn Phillips to give him the first wicket in the second innings. Patel who claimed 2-137, could have also got Mehidy Hasan Miraz had Daryl Mitchel not put down a catch at slip.

Miraz kept the side moving and hit Phillips a boundary to take the lead past 300 on the stroke of lunch. The lower order couldn’t bat around Miraz to help him growing the lead with Patel and Sodhi cleaning up the tail. Patel returned figures of 4-148 while Sodhi ended with 2-74.