Bangladesh spinner Taijul Islam (C) celebrates with team-mate Mushfiqur Rahim after getting the wicket of New Zealand’s Ish Sodhi on the fifth and final day of their first Test in Sylhet on Saturday. — BCB photo
All that was left on the fifth day for Bangladesh in their first Test against New Zealand in Sylhet was a formality as they were only three wickets away from win, and they did so within one and a half hours to start off the third cycle of the World Test Championship on a perfect note with a 150-run win on Saturday.
New Zealand started the day on 113-7, 219 runs away from victory, with the Bangladesh spin attack all over them.
Nayeem Hasan took the first wicket of the fifth day when he got rid of Daryl Mitchell, which also ended the Blackcaps’ final bits of hope for anything in their favour.
Following some dilly-dallying from the New Zealand tail, which included some quick runs from skipper Tim Southee, Taijul Islam picked up both Southee and Ish Sodhi to wrap up the visitors’ effort, sealing the win and ending with six wickets in the innings, and 10 in the match, the second time he has done so.
This was Bangladesh’s first Test win at home against New Zealand, and also their first at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. Overall, it was their 19th Test win, 13th at home.
It was also a first for Nazmul Hossain Shanto, who was making his Test captaincy debut in this match.
‘It is a good feeling. I am very happy to have won my first Test as captain. Everything went to plan. We played a good game,’ he said after the match.
‘They (New Zealand) were the champions of the first WTC cycle. The confidence of the players increases when you beat such a team. The belief that we can reach a better position in Test cricket also grows well.’
Taijul, the Player of the Match for his match bowling figures of 10-184, said it was a dream come true to beat the Blackcaps.
‘It was a dream come true to beat such a top side. It is hard to describe the feeling after such a victory,’ he said.
For New Zealand captain Southee, it was back to the drawing board.
‘There are many things you can look back on and as a side, you’re just looking to improve and hopefully, learn from this and move forward in a few days,’ the Blackcaps captain said.
Bangladesh started the day with Mitchell (58) and Sodhi (22) as their primary targets, and they reaped some reward a few overs after the former reached his fifty off 99 balls.
Mitchell tried to sweep Nayeem but only managed a top edge, which was taken comfortably by Taijul at fine leg.
After that wicket, Bangladesh’s wait was once again extended by Sodhi and Southee as the duo added 46 runs for the ninth wicket, with the latter scoring 34 runs off just 24 balls hitting two sixes, which were his first against Bangladesh in red-ball cricket.
That attacking intent also brought his demise as a mistimed pull off Taijul was caught at midwicket by Zakir Hasan and then, Ish Sodhi’s 91-ball effort of extending play came to an end four overs later with the same combination.
Taijul got one to turn and bounce for the umpteenth time in this match and found Sodhi’s edge, which was taken by Zakir at silly point.
The second Test in Dhaka will begin on December 6.
