Sports Reporter :
Bangladesh took the commanding position against New Zealand on day 4 of the first Test at Mount Maunganui in New Zealand on Tuesday. Right-arm pacer Ebadot Hossain bowled extremely well claiming four wickets at the cost of 39 runs as New Zealand were tottering at 147 runs for the loss of five wickets at the close of the fourth day play. The hosts had overall tiny 17-run lead.
Sent into bat first, New Zealand made 328 runs for the loss of five wickets in their first innings on the second day (Sunday).
In reply, Bangladesh piled up a mammoth total of 458 runs in the first innings on the fourth day.
Bangladesh resumed their first innings with the over-night score of 401for the loss of six wickets. Yasir Ali and Mehidy Hasan Miraz resumed their first innings with the over-night score of 11 and 20 runs respectively.
Yasir Ali and Miraz added 44 runs in the seventh wicket stand before Miraz was caught behind by wicketkeeper Tom Blundell off Tim Southee when Bangladesh’s total was 445 for the loss of seven wickets.
Miraz made 47 from 88 balls featuring eight fours.
After Miraz’s dismissal, no remarkable partnership was built by Bangladesh batters. Yasir Ali scored 26 from 85 balls hitting one four before Yasir Ali was caught behind by wicketkeeper Tom Blundell off Kyle Jamieson when the visitors’ total was 450 for the loss of eight wickets.
Seventh-down Taskin Ahmed (5) was trapped leg before wicket by Tim Southee when the touring side’s score was 458 for the loss of nine wickets.
Number-nine batsman Shoriful Islam (7) was bowled out by Trent Boult when Bangladesh’s first innings came to an end.
Tim Southee was the most successful bowler for his side on the fourth day. He bagged two wickets for 114 runs. Later, New Zealand had a poor start as opener Tom Latham (14) was bowled out by Taskin Ahmed when the hosts’ score was 29.
After Latham’s dismissal, Will Young and Devon Conway repaired the damage adding together 34 runs before Devon Conway (13) was caught at the gully by Shadman Islam off Ebadot Hossain when New Zealand’s total was 63 for the loss of two wickets.
Ebadot struck again as set batsman Will Young was bowled out by the right-arm pacer when the Kiwis total was 136 for the loss of three wickets. Will Young notched up a calm 69. He hit seven fours in his 172-ball knock.
Then, Ebadot dismissed Henry Nicholls for a duck when the Kiwis score was 136 for the loss of four wickets.
Fourth-down batsman Tom Blundell could stay at the crease for a short period as Ebadot struck again and Blundell (0) was trapped leg before wicket by the right-arm pacer when the hosts’ total was 136 for the loss of five wickets.
Ross Taylor remained unbeaten with 37. He hit two fours in his 101-ball knock. Rachin Ravindra remained unbeaten with six runs. Taskin Ahmed took one wicket for 22 runs.
