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Test: Best day in New Zealand put Bangladesh in command 

Saleque Sufi | banglanews24.com
Update: 2022-01-03 13:00:43
Test: Best day in New Zealand put Bangladesh in command 

1st Test Played at Bay Oval Mount Maunganui from January 1-5 2021
Brief Scorecard at Stumps On Day -3 
New Zealand 328 All Out (Devon Conway 122, Henry Nicholls 75 Will Young 52, Henry Nicholls 32*, Ross Taylor 31, Shoriful Islam 3/69, Mehedy Miraj 3/86 Mominul Haq 2/6, Ebadat Hossain 1/75) 
Bangladesh: 1st Innings 401/6 (Mominul Haq 88, Liton K Das 86, Mahmud Hasan Joy 78, Nazmul Hossain Shanto 64, Mehedi Hasan Miraj 20*, Yasir Ali 11*, Trent Boult 3/61 ,  Neil Wagner 2/27) 
Bangladesh lead by 73 runs with 4 wickets at hand 

Definitely Bangladesh spent its best day in test in New Zealand today, batting superbly and forging ahead by 73 runs without getting all out.

They might have scored over 550 runs in a test innings at Wellington against New Zealand for a losing cause. In that innings Shakib scored a double century and Musfique 150.  In my opinion 3rd January 2022 would go down in Bangladesh test history as the best batting day against a very formidable black caps bowling attack leaving nothing unturned.  At stumps on day three Bangladesh reaching 401/6 took a comfortable lead of 73. 

If the remaining batsmen can add another 50-60 Bangladesh can even press for a win as wicket has shown signs of uneven bounce already. Mominul 88 (244), Joy 78 (228) and Liton 86 (177) though missed centuries yet they kept resurging Kiwi bowlers at bay. In recent times in New Zealand wickets, I have not seen the great exponents of swing and seam bowlers of top quality Kiwi attack struggle so much for wickets. This Bangladesh team achieved it without Tamim, Shakib, Riad and without much contribution of even Mushfique. It was combination of great application, courage and fortitude. Well-done tigers. Home team is really under pressure. 

Starting at 175/2 Bangladesh lost Joy early falling to Wagner for 78. Mominul and Liton set up strong resistance. Mominul was little lucky escaping getting out early to Wagner when he over stepped. But he showed extreme patience and resilience. Liton was more flamboyant. They produced 158-match defining 5th wicket partnership after Mushfique also fell scoring not much. Wagner with his pace and relentless hostility and Jamieson with bounce and swing created challenges. But Mominul and Liton weathered storm. Southee and Boult with second new cherry made no impression. 

However, Mominul (88) and Liton (86) failed to convert their splendid innings into centuries falling to desperate Boult bowling at full steam. One great thing of this innings was that Bangladesh did not lose wickets in cluster. When stumps were drawn for the day Bangladesh scoring 401/6 forged ahead by 73 runs. Another 50-60 runs if added on day four first session would let Bangladesh pressing on home team. It will be a huge achievement if Bangladesh bowlers and fielders can repeat their performance of the first innings. 

It would not matter what would the ultimate outcome, what tigers have lot to take pride of. A new milestone already created.

BDST: 1300 HRS, JAN 03, 2021
SMS

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