Bangladesh spinners Taijul Islam and Mehidy Hasan Miraz‘s magical spin bowling reduced New Zealand to 55-5 before bad light ended play of the Day 1 of second Test in Mirpur Wednesday.
Kiwis reached 24 for two in seven overs after Taijul Islam, the destroyer-in-chief in Sylhet Test, removed the other opener Tom Latham.
The home cricket, Shere-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium saw a different day of Test cricket when batters had woeful experiences, as 15 batters, 10 of hosts countries and five of the visitors were out after scoring 227 runs.
It was a whirlwind day that saw 15 wickets tumble. Yes, 15 wickets fell in less than 80 overs. After batting first Bangladesh were bundled out for 172. Mushfiqur Rahim was the highest scorer for Bangladesh with 35 before becoming the first Bangladeshi to get out for obstructing the field in Test cricket.
The incident occurred in the 41st over of the innings. Mushfiqur, batting on 35, defended a delivery from pacer Kyle Jamieson and then as the ball was going wide of the wickets he swatted it with his right hand even though it was not heading towards the wickets. He becomes the eighth cricketer in Tests to get out in this way.
On the day, the pitch of the Sher-e-Bangla was a spin paradise, as the sinners from both sides captured 13 off 15 wickets with New Zealand’s spinners had eight and Bangladesh spinners claimed five wickets. The pitch offered assistance to the spinners throughout and in their first innings NZ were simply not able to cope with what the Bangladesh spinners threw at them. Conway left a ball that did not turn. Latham under-edged a ball that kept low. Nicholls' patience ran out. Blundell went back to a ball he could have been forward to, and Williamson was done in by an absolute stunner. In short, it was a nightmarish hour for the Kiwis, who, despite restricting Bangladesh to 172, finished the day on the back foot, and are now in real danger of getting bundled out for a sub-100 total, thanks to some immaculate Bangladesh bowling, and some questionable Kiwi decision-making.
