The opening day of the Sylhet Test match between Bangladesh and New Zealand concluded with a shade of disappointment for Bangladesh opener Mahmudul Hasan. While he played an impressive inning, Mahmudul rued the missed opportunity to convert his 86-run score into a more substantial contribution. On a day that saw New Zealand limit Bangladesh to 310 runs for the loss of 9 wickets, Mahmudul’s knock stood out, but the occasion was marred by his inability to reach the coveted three-figure mark.
The opener’s feelings of regret were compounded by a similar situation in his last Test against Afghanistan, where he fell short of a century, being dismissed for 76. Mahmudul was candid in his post-match interaction with the press, stating, “I don’t get the chance to get set every day and I missed two innings [to make it big] and in the coming days will try to do better.”
Mahmudul’s 86 runs came under challenging circumstances, given the behavior of the pitch and the disciplined New Zealand bowling attack, with Glenn Phillips capturing four wickets for 53 runs. Although he showcased resilience and technique in his innings, the well-set batsman couldn’t persevere to make it a landmark day for himself and his team.
Reflecting on the team’s performance and personal regrets, Mahmudul mentioned, “Certainly [disappointing] because you see I had the chance to play a big innings but unfortunately missed it because as an opener you won’t get the chance to get set and score big, but today it came, and unfortunately, I missed it.”
Another notable innings was that of Bangladesh’s skipper Najmul Hossain, who fell prey to his aggressive approach against Phillips. Mahmudul supported his captain’s intent to be aggressive against the part-time offspinner. He argued that it was part of the strategy to not allow Phillips to settle into a rhythm, which could have allowed New Zealand’s frontline bowlers to apply even more pressure.
The pitch at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium was a talking point for its turn, but Mahmudul believed it offered value for those willing to trust their defense. He emphasized that each batsman had their plans and natural game, which they tried to execute. Mahmudul spoke highly of their approach, noting, “If you can trust your defense, it is easy, but everyone has different planning, like Shanto bhai was playing his natural game, I am playing my natural game, while Sohan bhai was playing his natural game. So everyone has different game plans.”
Nevertheless, the opener expressed confidence in their score of 300, outlining it as a competitive total against their opponents. He expressed optimism about the spin-friendly nature of the wicket and trusted the quality of Bangladesh’s spinners to challenge New Zealand’s batting lineup effectively.
Though disappointed, Mahmudul remained forward-looking, aiming to capitalize on future opportunities with better outcomes. With a mix of reflection and aspiration, he spoke for the team when he said, “We planned that it would be good if we could score 350 or 380 runs, but unfortunately it didn’t happen.”
The rest of the Bangladesh team will likely echo Mahmudul’s sentiments, as they were several players who got starts but failed to convert them into significant scores. Yet, Bangladesh’s scoreboard pressure, combined with strategic bowling, could still spell trouble for New Zealand in the upcoming days of the match, keeping the Test poised for competitive cricket.