Bangladesh VS New Zealand Test Series 
1st Test Played at Bay Oval Mount Maunganui, January 1-5, 2021
Brief Scorecard 
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 458 All Out in 176.2 Overs (Mominul Haq 88, Liton K Das 86, Mahmud Hasan Joy 78, Nazmul Hossain Shanto 64, Mehedi Hasan Miraj 47, Yasir Ali 26, Trent Boult 4/85, Neil Wagner 3/101, Tim Southee 2/114) 
New Zealand 2nd Innings 169 All Out (Will Young 69, Ross Taylor 40, Ebadat Hossain 6/46, Taskin Ahmed 3/36, Mehedy Miraz 1/43) 
Bangladesh 2nd Innings 42/2 (Nazmul Hossain Shanto 17, Mominul 13*, Mushfiqur Rahim 5*, Kyle Jamieson 1/ 12. Tim Southee (1/ 21)   
Bangladesh Win by 8 wickets
Player of The Match: Ebadat Hossain

Starting the series as ranked underdog eleven cricket warriors of Bangladesh completely overwhelmed word test champion New Zealand in their own den winning the first test by 8 wickets within first session of day five. 

New Zealand got bundled out for 169 in the second innings after training by 130 in the first innings. Ebadat (6/46) and Taskin (3/36) continued breathing fire making badly battered and bruised black caps completely shattered. Bangladesh with ease and comfort cruised scoring 42/2. It was only fitting that two champions Mominul and Mushfique were at the wicket when a new page of glory was added to Bangladesh cricket.
 
Bangladesh played 31 matches before this in all format in New Zealand in bilateral contest and lost all. None I would say thought off any possibility for Bangladesh causing such a huge upset before the series commenced. But in a major turn of events Bangladesh dominating all the way through deservedly won the test by a thumping margin of 8 wicket. What a brilliant achievement! What a brilliant turning around after a disastrous home series against Pakistan and dismal T20 world Cup! Shakibul Hasan opted to skip the series, Tamim Iqbal was unavailable considering himself not match fit, and Mahmudullah Riad announced retirement from red ball cricket. Mustafiz is reluctant for playing test. Little bird Mominul only had Mushfiqur Rahim at his disposal from experienced quality players. The team looked down and out after getting routed by Pakistan in T20 and Test series at home. 

Come the test series. The team chemistry completely changed. On a greenish type lively wicket Bangladesh winning the toss and electing to field bowled and fielded superbly from day one. Shoriful , Ebadat ,Taskin and Miraj all bowled exceptionally well .Even Mominul chipped in with useful wickets. None excepting Devon Conway (122) and Henry Nicholls (75) could survive quality Bangladesh attack as home team could manage scoring 328 in the first innings.   

Many thoughts brittle Bangladesh top order would melt. But Shadman (22) and new boy Mahmudul Hasan Joy (78) exceptional patience and commitment. Shanto (64) set up resolute partnership and encouraged Mominul (88) and Liton (86) almost batting home team out of the match. Bangladesh took a match defining lead as Mehedy Miraj (47) and Yasir Ali (26) also made useful contributions. Bangladesh scored impressive 458 all out from an excellent team effort. Most importantly they kept home team guessing for 176.2 overs. In recent time a bowling unit comprising of Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Neil Wagner and Kyle Jamieson playing against India, Pakistan, West Indies did not come across such a resistance. 

Batting second time they found a superb Ebadat and Taskin and never say die Bangladesh contingent stinging them like bees flying out of disturbed beehive. The fate of the match was written by stumps of day four as New Zealand finishing at 147/5 had a lead of merely 17 runs. Bangladesh bowlers did not take much time bundling home team out for 169. Ebadat took his career best 6/46 and Taskin grabbed 3/36. It was reverse swing the Kiwi commentators were mentioning. But we thought both Ebadat and Taskin bowled fast and at right channel. Black Cap batsmen could not show the patience and commitments. Bangladesh deservedly won the match by 8 wickets. New Zealand was completely outplayed in all facets of the game. It is a major test win for Bangladesh away from home. Earlier Bangladesh won matches against Zimbabwe and West Indies. But those were weak teams. This New Zealand team is world Champion. This Bangladesh team is mostly young and fresh. No amount of praise would be enough pen- picturing the achievement. Heartiest Congratulations team Bangladesh. 

Now team Bangladesh has to prove that it is not an once in a blue moon achievement. New Zealand would come bouncing back at Hagley Oval, Christchurch next week.

BDST: 1125 HRS, JAN 05, 2022
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