Bangladesh finished the fourth day of the Sylhet Test on Friday, just three wickets short of registering their first home Test victory over New Zealand, having reduced the Kiwis to 113-7 at stumps at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.
Taijul Islam was the standout of the hosts’ bowlers, taking four wickets, while Shoriful Islam, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, and Nayeem Hasan each got one wicket as the Tigers remain just three wickets away from victory.
Daryll Mitchel is unbeaten on 44 at the close of the day’s play for the visitors, while the other Kiwi batters were unable to overcome the home side’s prolonged siege.
Mitchell and Ish Sodhi, both undefeated on 0, will open the last day’s play, with the Black Caps needing another 219 runs to secure a victory that appears implausible.
Miraz earlier got his fifth Test fifty as Bangladesh produced 338 in their second innings to set a target of 332 runs.
Bangladesh is three wickets from victory.
Taijul Islam took his fourth wicket, trapping Kyle Jamieson in front, as Bangladesh reduced New Zealand to 102 for seven on Day four of the Sylhet Test on Friday.
Jamieson was dismissed for nine runs, and Ish Sodhi has now joined Daryll Mitchel, who is on 40 runs.
Bangladesh takes the lead when New Zealand loses their sixth wicket.
Bangladesh off-spinner Nayeem Hasan got in on the act, trapping New Zealand batter Glenn Phillips lbw in the last session of the fourth Day of the first Test in Sylhet on Friday, leaving the Kiwis down by six wickets for 82 runs after 35 overs.
Kyle Jamieson took over at the crease, with Daryl Mitchell undefeated on 28.
To win, New Zealand needs 250 more runs.
With Taijul’s third wicket, New Zealand is five down.
Bangladesh spinner Taijul Islam dismissed New Zealand batsman Tom Blundell in the final session of the fourth day of the first Test in Sylhet on Friday, reducing the Kiwis to five down for 60 after 28 overs.
Taijul’s third wicket of the day came as he turned the ball away from off-stump on a good length and took the batter’s outside edge.
New Zealand still requires 272 runs to win.
Glenn Phillips came to the middle, with Mitchell at the other end undefeated on 19.
Taijul dismisses Conway for the second time.
Taijul Islam, Bangladesh’s left-arm spinner, dismissed New Zealand opener Devon Conway in the last session of the fourth Day of the first Test at Sylhet on Friday, leaving New Zealand four down for 46 runs.
Taiju, who had earlier returned Kane Williamson, got it to spin in from outside off-stump to the left-hander on a decent length. Conway rushed forward to block it, but the ball took a feather off the bat’s splice and popped to Shahadat Hossain Dipu at short leg.
Following the dismissal, Tom Blundell took the crease, with Mitchell undefeated on one at the other end.
Tigers grab three Kiwi wickets, including Miraz’s first.
Mehedi Hasan Miraz of Bangladesh took his maiden wicket when he dismissed New Zealand batter Henry Nicholls, reducing the Kiwis to three down for 30 after 13 overs.
When Nicholls attempted to sweep, he appeared to be dragging a delivery from outside. This placed him into difficulty because he could only top edge it to a short fine leg.
Devon Conway, who was undefeated on 17, was joined at the crease by Daryl Mitchell.
Williamson gets fired as a result of Taijul’s strike.
On Day 4 of the first Test at Sylhet on Friday, Bangladesh left-arm spinner Taijul Islam claimed the key wicket of New Zealand batter Kane Williamson, leaving the Kiwis two down for 19 after 10 overs in their pursuit of 332.
Williamson, who hit a century in New Zealand’s first innings, was bowled out while attempting to prod away a tossed-up delivery delivered around middle and off stump.
With Devon Conway undefeated on eight, the dismissal brought Henry Nicholls to the crease.
Shoriful takes out Latham to give the Tigers their first breakthrough.
On Day 4 of the first Test at Sylhet on Friday, Bangladesh pacer Shoriful Islam struck first, dismissing New Zealand opener Tom Latham for zero in the first over of the fourth session.
Following Latham’s expulsion, Kane Williamson took the crease, with opener Devon Conway waiting at the other end.
Bangladesh is out for 338 points, while New Zealand needs 332 to win.
On Day 4 of the first Test against Bangladesh in Sylhet on Friday, New Zealand clawed back to bundle out the hosts for 338, limiting the lead to 331.
The visitors got seven wickets in the first two sessions and now need 332 runs to win.
Bangladesh, which began the day at 212 for three, scored 126 runs to their overnight total while losing seven wickets.
Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto top-scored with 105, and Mushfiqur Rahim added 67 runs.
Mehedi Hasan Miraz, an all-rounder, smashed a fifty to extend Bangladesh’s advantage to 331 and remain undefeated on 50.
Ajaz Patel grabbed four wickets for the Kiwis, while Ish Sodhi took two.
New Zealand took a seven-run lead after replying to Bangladesh’s 310-run first innings total with 317.
Miraz is crucial after Bangladesh suffers nine defeats.
Bangladesh all-rounder Mehedi Hasan Miraz is crucial for the hosts, who are hoping to expand their lead after losing nine wickets, two of which fell on Day 4 of the first Test against New Zealand in Sylhet on Friday.
Nayeem Hasan (4) and Taijul Islam (0) both fell in rapid succession, permitting Miraz to grab a few important runs. Bangladesh were at 327 for nine after 99 overs, with Miraz undefeated on 48 and seeking for support from Shoriful, who was not out on one.
Sohan’s battle at the crease comes to an end as the Tigers lose seven wickets.
Bangladesh wicket-keeper batter Nurul Hasan Sohan’s restlessness at the crease saw him chip one back to New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips on Day 4 of the first Test in Sylhet on Friday, leaving Bangladesh seven down for 291 after 92 overs.
Sohan appeared to have lost his mind, as he appeared uneasy in his futile attempts to attack the Kiwi bowlers. When he skipped down the wicket, he shot himself in the foot, only to chip it back to off-spinner Phillips two overs before lunch. He had made 10 runs before being dismissed. He had a respite when Daryl Mitchell dropped him on nine at first slip, but he was unable to capitalise on his good fortune.
Bangladesh headed into lunch with 308 runs on the board, a loss of seven, and a 301-point lead.
Mehedi Hasan Miraz remained undefeated on 32, while Nayeem Hasan was not out on three.
Bangladesh loses ground after Mushfiqur exits.
The fourth day of the Sylhet Test is not going as planned for Bangladesh, with three dismissals before the end of the first session, including two overnight batsmen, Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim.
After 87 overs in their second innings, the Tigers are 285 for six, leading by 278 runs. Mushfiqur was the last to go, out leg-before for 67 off 115 on an arm ball off Ajaz Patel.
Miraz, who is joined by Nurul Hasan Sohan, is not scheduled to play on 16th. Miraz, on the other hand, was fortunate to remain in the middle after his lofted drive off Ajaz Patel in the 83rd over holed out to Henry Nicholls at mid-off. Nicholls appeared to make a superbly judged catch at mid-off, on the move and diving low to his left, but the third umpire wasn’t sure.
Early in the day, the hosts lost the wickets of debutant Shahadat Hossain Dipu and stand-in skipper Shanto (105) before Mushfiqur.
Dipu was caught in front by leg-spinner Ish Sodhi and dismissed for 18 off 19 balls.
On December 1, 2023, New Zealand will commemorate Shahadat Hossain Dipu’s dismissal. Photographer: Firoz Ahmed
Desperate to make more inroads, New Zealand skipper Tim Southee used five bowlers in the opening 11 overs of the day and did not hesitate to use the new ball after 80 overs.
Shanto retires in the second over, and Mushfiqur completes his 27th Test fifty.
As New Zealand’s experienced pacer Tim Southee struck in his first over of Day 4 of the Sylhet Test today, Bangladesh stand-in captain Najmul Hossain Shanto could only add one more run to his overnight score.
Shanto hangs his head in defeat after arriving in Southee on December 1, 2023. Photographer: Firoz Ahmed
Shanto was caught behind to a seemingly harmless delivery in trying to guide the ball in the fine-leg region at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, leading to the New Zealand skipper’s first wicket of the innings in his second ball of the day after Daryl Mitchell opened the proceedings.
The Tigers lead by 233 runs after 74 overs in their second innings, with debutant Shahadat Hossain Dipu in the middle.
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Can the Tigers cash in at this point?
Bangladesh is now relying on Mushfiqur Rahim to lead them to victory. Meanwhile, Mushfiqur has scored his 27th Test fifty.
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‘Clinical’ Shanto takes command of the Tigers.