Bangladesh carried all their doubts, poor form, and an overall bad vibe from the disappointing home series against Pakistan last month to New Zealand. The prospects were bleak. But three days of solid, battling cricket in the first Test has changed the visitors’ outlook.
They hold a 73-run lead against the Test world champions after the third day, and if Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Najmul Hossain Shanto frustrated New Zealand on the second day, it was the turn of the more experienced Mominul Haque and Litton Das to do it on the third.
The two put on 158 for the fifth wicket, and Yasir Ali and Mehidy Hasan Miraz didn’t allow a lower-order collapse after Litton’s dismissal.
Before them, while he scored only 12, Mushfiqur Rahim batted close to an hour, facing 85 balls.
“It was a fantastic partnership between Mominul and Litton,” team director Khaled Mahmud said after the third day’s play.
“They batted very well against a New Zealand attack that always comes at you with discipline. Mominul played an excellent inning. He spent a lot of time in the middle, he left a lot of balls, as Joy had done earlier. Mominul is a more experienced Test cricketer than Litton but both batted superbly.”
“I think New Zealand bowled superbly with the second new ball, but we stuck to our plan. They weren’t giving us many freebies. They were bowling such tight lines that, at the start of the day, Joy and Mominul couldn’t even get singles. But we spent time at the crease, rather than thinking about runs. Mushfiqur [Rahim] and Mominul, both experienced players, did a great job in that situation. The execution was perfect.”
Mominul and Litton got together with Bangladesh 203 for 4, in a strong position but just a bad hour away from undoing the good work. Mominul scored 88 in over four hours, facing 370 balls, while Litton’s 86 came in just under three hours, off 247 balls. ♦
Courtesy: ESPN Cricinfo
