Bangladesh lost two of its top hitters, Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Mominul Haque, late in the afternoon session, allowing New Zealand to take control of the first Test at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today.
Bangladesh scored 185 for four in 55 overs at Tea, with two new hitters at the crease: Mushfiqur Rahim (1* off 6) and debutant Shahadat Hossain (0* off 4).
The Tigers, on the other hand, were cruising and appeared to be on track for a wicketless session before losing Mominul (37 off 78) and Joy (86 off 166) in the space of five deliveries late in the second session.
Mominul Haque was the first to go, throwing his wicket away to become Glenn Phillips’ second Test victim. Mominul seems to have not learnt from his near shave by attempting to cut just the previous delivery, as he attempted to do the same again in the very next delivery, only to receive an inside edge on to the wicketkeeper.
Joy, who was on his way to his second Test century, was out in the following over to Ish Sodhi, who coaxed the right-hander to push forward to defend, coaxing an edge off his bat through to first slip. The umpires checked to see if the catch was taken cleanly, but Daryl Mitchell did an excellent job of getting his hands underneath the cherry to complete a flawless grab.
Bangladesh, who appeared to be in command, will now need to rebuild their relationship in the first Test of the third World Test Championship cycle.