Mominul Haque proved to be Bangladesh’s golden arm, taking two wickets in his only over of the day to break a crucial partnership and also bundle out New Zealand for 317, with a seven-run lead over the hosts, on Day 3 of their first Test at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today.
Mominul, who was introduced for the first time on the day in the 102nd over, had Kyle Jamieson stuck in front with his first delivery. The ball retained its line and went on to hit Jamieson on his pads before hitting the middle and leg stumps, as revealed in the Kiwis’ review. Jamieson (23 off 70) and Southee had a 52-run stand when the wicket fell.
Mominul then finished it off with his fifth ball of the over, taking the wicket of Southee, who had batted admirably to add important runs for the Kiwis. To the pleasure of the Tigers, Southee (35 off 62) attempted to play across the line, only to have the ball crash against his stumps.
Mominul had interrupted a 78-run stand between Kane Williamson and Glenn Phillips the day before by scalping the latter with his first delivery of the game.
Mominul finished with three for four in 3.5 overs, his best-ever Test bowling figures.
Southee and Jamieson frustrate the Tigers as the Kiwis grab the lead.
Bangladesh were unable to make an early breakthrough as New Zealand tailenders frustrated the Tigers, surpassing the hosts’ first-innings total of 310 on Day 3 of their first Test at the Sylhet International Stadium today.
New Zealand started the day on 266 for eight, 44 runs behind the Tigers’ first-innings total.
Tim Southee and Kyle Jamieson, on the other hand, displayed grit and patience as they batted pretty comfortably to deny Bangladesh bowlers any meaningful chance.
New Zealand advanced to 316 for eight, a six-run lead, with Southee undefeated on 35 off 61 and Jamieson unbeaten on 23 off 69.
Southee and Jamieson shared 52 runs for the ninth wicket as well.
Bangladesh did, however, come close to capturing wickets on a few times. A Mehedi Hasan Miraz delivery appeared to hit Jamieson on the pads, prompting Bangladesh players to file a massive appeal, only to be refused by the umpire and the Tigers to decline a review, believing the ball had missed the leg stump. Another time, a Nayeem Hasan delivery took an inside edge off Southee’s bat but missed the stumps to go down for a boundary.