The first day of the inaugural Test between New Zealand and Bangladesh commenced in Sylhet on Tuesday, where spinner Glenn Phillips exhibited a remarkable performance by securing 4 wickets for 53 runs, restricting Bangladesh to a total of 310 for 9 before the day concluded prematurely due to fading light.
Phillips, who was selected over Rachin Ravindra, played a pivotal role in dismantling the Bangladeshi batting lineup. Starting strong, Bangladesh’s opener Mahmudul Hasan exhibited a commendable show, scoring 86 off 166 balls, building a foundation for what could have been a substantial total for the hosts.
After deciding to bat first, Bangladesh showed significant command with the bat in various intervals throughout the day but lost key wickets at critical moments. New Zealand bowlers, Ajaz Patel and Kyle Jamieson, also made notable contributions with two wickets each.
As part of a strong batting effort, Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto and former captain Mominul Haque each scored 37. Both batsmen established crucial partnerships with Mahmudul, adding 53 and 88 runs for the second and third wicket, respectively. However, their innings were curtailed sooner than expected.
New Zealand made their breakthrough with Patel dispatching opener Zakir Hasan for 12. Phillips then managed to snag his maiden Test wicket by dismissing Najmul in the first session of the day, with Kane Williamson skillfully catching the ball at mid-on.
The Black Caps applied more pressure with Ish Sodhi and Phillips striking just before the tea break. Daryl Mitchell’s impressive low slip catch off Sodhi brought Mahmudul’s dogged innings to a close, marking his 4th Test half-century lavished with 11 boundaries. Shortly thereafter, Phillips induced a catch from Mominul to wicketkeeper Tom Blundell.
A seasoned Mushfiqur Rahim could make only 12 before falling prey to Patel, providing Williamson his second catch. Jamieson, New Zealand’s most successful pacer for the day, snagged Mehidy Hasan’s wicket for 20 with Mitchell again in the action with a catch.
Nurul Hasan, the opposing wicketkeeper-batsman, elicited a bit of a fightback with a quick succession of boundaries before Phillips tipped the match’s momentum in New Zealand’s favor. The off-spinner managed to take the wicket of debutant Shahadat Hossain, who scored 24, and then six overs later ended Nurul’s innings at 29.
Despite Phillips’ performance, Taijul Islam (8 not out) and Shoriful Islam (13 not out) managed to hold the fort after Jamieson took out Nayeem Hasan, which saw Bangladesh standing at nine down by stumps.
The current series adds significance as it marks a new chapter for both teams in the World Test Championship, nurturing the spirit of top-tier cricket competition. With both teams seeking a strong start, the forthcoming days promise to showcase exciting cricket as part of this international face-off.
This sports update hopes to engage spectators and enthusiasts around the globe, with further in-depth coverage as the match progresses. As the two nations lock horns in this gripping encounter, followers can stay tuned for the latest information and highlights from this series.