On the inaugural day of the first Test between New Zealand and Bangladesh at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, an instance of sportsmanship was on display when New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel cautioned Bangladesh’s Mominul Haque about leaving the non-striker’s crease too early. The incident occurred during the 39th over of Bangladesh’s batting innings. Patel, in his delivery stride, noticed that Mominul was already out of his crease and opted to warn the batsman instead of attempting a run-out commonly known as the ‘Mankad’.
The moment, captured on video, showed Patel halting his bowling action and signaling to Mominul that he had left his crease too early – a thoughtful gesture that earned the spinner plaudits for his adherence to the ‘spirit of the game’. You can view the video on T Sports’ Twitter handle which showcased Patel’s sporting behavior.
This was not the only highlight of the day, as Glenn Phillips, playing in place of Rachin Ravindra, delivered an impressive performance with figures of 4-53, helping to restrict Bangladesh to a score of 310-9 before the day was concluded prematurely due to bad light conditions. This bowling display stifled the Bangladeshi batsmen despite a solid foundation laid by opener Mahmudul Hasan, who scored 86 runs from 166 balls.
Bangladesh, opting to bat first, saw periods of dominance throughout the day but New Zealand managed to consistently take wickets at key intervals. Both skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto and his predecessor Mominul Haque managed 37 runs each, contributing to meaningful partnerships worth 53 and 88 for the second and third wickets, respectively.
The Kiwi breakthrough came when Patel clean bowled opener Zakir Hasan for 12 runs, initiating the series of subsequent wickets. Phillips then claimed Najmul as his maiden Test wicket during the morning session, with the New Zealand captain, Kane Williamson, making the catch in the outfield.
The Kiwis continued to apply pressure as Ish Sodhi and Phillips struck in quick succession before the tea interval, dampening the host’s momentum. Daryl Mitchell’s sharp fielding led to Sodhi dismissing Mahmudul, curtailing what had been an innings filled with determination and resilience, highlighted by 11 boundaries for his fourth Test half-century.
Subsequent wickets included Mushfiqur Rahim for 12 runs to Patel – Williamson’s second catch of the day – and Mehidy Hasan to pacer Kyle Jamieson, who managed to collect a total of two scalps for the day. Phillips continued his fine form by also dispatching Nurul Hasan for 29 and debutant Shahadat Hossain for 24, catching the latter of his wickets off his own bowling.
With the light fading, the resilience of Taijul Islam and Shoriful Islam, unbeaten on eight and 13 respectively, ensured that Bangladesh avoided being bowled out on the day. They held firm after Jamieson’s dismissal of Nayeem Hasan, with the match poised for an intriguing continuation.
The Sylhet Test marks the beginning of a new chapter for both teams in the context of the World Test Championship, setting the stage for what promises to be an engaging series reflecting the competitive spirit and respect exemplified by Ajaz Patel’s action on the field.
New Zealand hopes to continue their effective teamwork and strategy execution, as evidenced by their day one performance, while Bangladesh aims to capitalize on their fighting spirit to make a comeback in the following days of the match.
(With AFP Inputs)