Having lost the first Test of the series against New Zealand by a big margin of an innings and 52 runs, Bangladesh are now in the challenge to fight back in the second encounter scheduled to be played from today (Friday) at Basin Reserve of Wellington. The match starts at 4.00 am.
It is known to the world that Bangladesh perhaps a strong team in their home yard, but when the thing is about performing abroad, they are not in a place to deliver a noticeable performance which was proved again in the first Test in Hamilton.
Bangladeshwerefar behind the hosts both in bowling and batting. They were outplayed by the Kiwi pacers and they were also outshot by their batsmen as New Zealand recorded their highest Test score of 715 runs in their only innings of the match.
In the first innings of the first Test of the series, Tamim Iqbal struck a hundred and managed an ideal opening stand along with Shadman Islam. But the Tigers failed to capitalize that just being tumbled for 234. They have lost most of their wickets to the short deliveries of the hosts’ pace attack.
However, Bangladesh showed a firm display of batting in the second innings when Soumya Sarkar and Mahmudullah Riyad hit the centuries. Soumya recorded his first Test ton while Mahmudullah hit his third ton in three successive Tests for the Tigers.
But still, the second innings total of 429 proved not to be enough to avoid an embarrassing loss for the Tigers.
After that loss, Mahmudullah, Bangladesh captain, said the poor batting show in the first innings was the reason behind their unwanted ending in the match.
Before heading into the second game of the series, Mahmudullah insisted that the first innings is most important in Test cricket.
“The first innings is most important in Test cricket because it helps to build up the rest of the game in a match. Whether you are batting or bowling, you have to make sure good first innings for holding the steering of the match,” Mahmudullah told the reporters in Wellington.
Bangladesharegoing to miss the service of Mushfiqur Rahim in the second game as the stalwart batsman has been suffering from some issues with his finger and rib. He has so much soreness that will not allow him to take part in the second game.
Mushfiqur also missed the first Test. Bangladesh suffered the biggest blow at the start of the series when Shakib Al Hasan was ruled out due to a finger injury. Along with Mushfiqur and Shakib, team management is concern about Tamim’s participation as well. The left-arm opener has a slight niggle.
