Ajaz Patel’s quick turning delivery ended Zakir Hasan’s innings in the morning session of Day one of the Sylhet Test between Bangladesh and New Zealand today, foreshadowing what was to come later in the match.
In the early overs, Bangladesh openers Zakir and Mahmudul Hasan Joy did well to hold off New Zealand pacers Tim Southee and Kyle Jamieson.
After the seamers failed to break the opening stand of 39 in his fourth over, Southee bowled the ball to left-arm spinner Ajaz, who broke the opening stand on 39 in his fourth over.
The ball was pitched on about the fifth stump line, then twisted sharply back to crash into Zakir’s off stump, bringing his batting to an end with 12 runs from 42 balls.
Bangladesh’s captain, Najmul Hossain Shanto, has joined Joy in the middle.
Shanto then went after Ajaz in his next over, smashing him for four and six as Bangladesh reached 50-1 after 15 overs.
Shanto is batting on 10 and Joy is unbeaten on 19.
Bangladesh’s eleven-man squad includes three spinners and one pacer. Shahadat Hossain Dipu, the batter, is making his Test debut.