Bangladesh took a commanding lead at the end of Day 3 of their first Test against New Zealand, due to skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto’s sixth Test century at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today. Shanto, the nation’s 13th Test captain, also became the first Bangladeshi to make a century on his Test debut.
Shanto remained unbeaten on 104 off 193 deliveries at stumps on Day 3, while experienced campaigner Mushfiqur Rahim batted undefeated on 43 off 71 deliveries as Bangladesh compiled 212 for three in their second innings, leading by 205 runs.
Shanto, who hit nine boundaries in total, reached three figures off 192 balls when he drove an Ajaz Patel toss through mid-off and grabbed a single. This is also the top-order batter’s third century in three Tests this year, the last two being against Afghanistan at Mirpur in June.
The left-handed hitter has also been a member of a few vital partnerships, scoring 90 and an unbroken 96 runs with Mominul Haque and Mushfiqur.
Unlike in the opening innings, when he was eager to score runs, Shanto waited his turn and appeared more composed throughout the day.
Bangladesh had two run-outs, losing opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy (8 off 46) and Mominul (40 off 68). While Mominul could be blamed for trying to rush for a single and being caught short of his crease, Joy’s dismissal was certainly unlucky, with the batter failing to reach back to his crease after bowler Tim Southee got his hands on the ball to deflect it onto the stmps at the non-striker’s end.
Bangladesh had earlier wiped out New Zealand for 317 in their first innings.
Mominul falls to a disappointing run-out as the Kiwis make a key breakthrough.
Mominul Haque, the former Test captain, was looking strong on 40 when he glided down the track to negotiate the spin and hit it to mid-on, and he swiftly set out for a quick single. Shanto, on the other hand, was ball-watching, unaware that Mominul had taken off on the run. Mominul was more than halfway down the pitch when he began to make his way back into the striker’s end. Henry Nicholls had already managed an accurate throw when Mominul was run-out due to a big misunderstanding. Mominul-Shanto stand collapses after 90 runs. Mominul is the second batsman to be run out in the second innings, bringing Bangladesh’s total to 117.
Shanto turns fifty.
During day three of the first Test against New Zealand in Sylhet today, Najmul Hossain Shanto became the fifth Bangladesh captain to smash a fifty.
Shanto nearly connected on a reverse sweep to reach fifty off 95 deliveries. It was the left-handed batter’s fourth Test fifty, and it helped Bangladesh keep New Zealand at bay on day three, after the visitors had quickly dismissed both openers Joy and Zakir in the second session.
Tigers extend lead above 100 points thanks to Shanto and Mominul’s efforts.
Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mominul Haque sparkled in an 85-run unbeaten stand to send Bangladesh to tea on day three of the first Test against New Zealand in Sylhet without losing a wicket as their lead passed 100.
Bangladesh were 111 for 2 at tea, with Shanto unbeaten on 48 off 92 deliveries and Mominul on 38 off 62 deliveries. Bangladesh lead by 104 runs, and following Zakir Hasan and Mahmudul Hasan Joy’s dismissals in the second session, the Tigers have regained control. The conditions remain favourable for batting, even as cracks appear to be appearing as the third day’s play unfolds. Earlier, in the first session, New Zealand were bowled out for 317, with Mominul Haque picking up both remaining wickets to end with statistics of three wickets for four runs.
Shanto-Mominul is represented by the number fifty.
With a fifty-run stand for the third wicket, Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mominul Haque came back for the Tigers in the second session of day three against New Zealand in Sylhet.
Bangladesh were in trouble after losing both openers early in the second session. Mominul and Shanto, on the other hand, have both attempted to dominate the game in their own ways. Mominul blasted one through cover in the air in the 20th over to relieve pressure on Patel, and then followed it up with four runs on the next delivery with a pull shot. Shanto maintained bringing up the reverse-sweep to good effect, and despite criticism of his strategy in the first innings, Shanto appears to be continuing on in the second innings as well. Bangladesh scored 88 for 2 in 26 overs after a fifty-run stand in 62 deliveries.
After lunch, both openers returned to the hut.
Bangladesh lost their first wicket on day three, three overs into the second session, when Zakir Hasan was bowled by Ajaz Patel. Soon after, another opener, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, was run-out at the non-striker’s end when a Najmul Hossain Shanto straight drive ricocheted off Tim Southee’s fingers and onto the stumps.
This was Zakir’s second defeat against the Kiwi left-arm spinner in this game. Ajaz sped it in outside off stump, and the ball twisted sharply to beat Zakir’s bat. Zakir does not review the leg-before-wicket call since the ball struck the front pads. He is out after scoring a 30-ball 17 with Bangladesh on 26 for 1. Mr. Najmul Hossain Shanto was brought in to assist Mahmudul Hasan Joy at the wicket, but in the very next over, Shanto’s straight drive crashed over the stumps after deflecting off Southee’s fingertips with Joy out of his position at the non-striker’s end. Following the unfortunate run out, Joy, Bangladesh’s best scorer in the first innings, leaves for 8 off 46 deliveries.
Joy and Zakir keep a close eye on the Tigers as they establish a 12-run lead at lunch.
Bangladesh openers Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Zakir Hasan were cautious in their approach today as the Tigers took a 12-run lead into the lunch break of their first Test against New Zealand at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.
As Bangladesh went to 19 for no loss in their second innings, Zakir stayed unbeaten on 14 off 26 deliveries and Joy was not out on five from 34 balls. Mominul Haque took two wickets in one over to help the Najmul Hossain Shanto-led side bowl out New Zealand for 317. The Tigers scored 310 in the first inning.
New Zealand pacers were able to get some early movement in their second innings’ 10 overs. Zakir came within inches of edging a Tim Southee delivery that flew through the slip cordon for a boundary.
However, both Zakir and Joy held on, bucking the tendency of Bangladesh hitters throwing the wicket away near the conclusion of the session in this Test.