The first Test match between Bangladesh and New Zealand was heading for a draw barring any late drama after rain forced early stumps in the fourth day’s play at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong on Saturday. Bangladesh, however, can claim a moral victory irrespective of the outcome after going past New Zealand’s first innings total of 469 to amass 501, owing to an unbeaten 101 by Sohag Gazi.
New Zealand already wiped out the deficit reaching 117-1 in their second innings before a light shower, influenced by cyclone Phailin, washed out the penultimate day’s play. The visitors now lead the Tigers by just 85 runs which they have to increase in manifold if they are to push for a win.
Bangladesh were successful in keeping New Zealand’s run-rate under control despite the visitors starting the second innings aggressively by gathering 12 runs from the second over alone.
Nasir Hossain had Hamish Rutherford out leg-before for 32 to force Peter Fulton and Kane Williamson into the backfoot as the duo finished unbeaten on 44 and 28 overnight respectively.
Earlier, Sohag resumed on 28 and spent more than a session to complete his maiden century, which underlined Bangladesh’s credentials as a batting unit and provided New Zealand with some ideas about the batting depth of the newest Test nation.
Sohag and Robiul Islam dished out to New Zealand a dose of their own medicine adding 105 runs in their ninth-wicket stand, helping Bangladesh to edge past the visitors’ first innings total and kill some crucial time as well.
The partnership could have been a huge bonus for Bangladesh if New Zealand were bowled out for a lesser total but that was not to be.
New Zealand could take their score past the 350-run mark after BJ Watling and Trent Boult scored 127 runs for the last wicket stand.
Sohag batted in the same number eight position as Watling, who scored 103 runs, while Robiul did a Boult job scoring 33 runs.
Sohag had two first-class centuries to his name so everybody knew he could bat but Robiul’s innings was unexpected given his modest reputation with the willow.
However, he displayed no signs of nervousness and struck his five boundaries with such conviction that will make any top-order batsman envious. His confidence allowed Sohag to go for his own shots without bothering too much about retaining the strike.
Sohag’s third and last six of the innings enabled Bangladesh to take the lead before his last four, an upper cut off Doug Bracewell, a shot that he executed very well throughout the innings, earning him the deserved century.
Sohag, however, had to spend a few anxious moments before his century as his partnership with Robiul ended with him stranded on 96. He took a single in the next over to give Rubel Hossain the strike for just two deliveries that the Bangladesh number 11 successfully parried away to safety.
Back in strike, Sohag made his first opportunity count to reach his century before he allowed Rubel to make a name for his own.
Despite little credibility with the bat, Rubel indeed used his opportunity well cracking Ish Sodhi to the long-on fence which brought Bangladesh’s morale-boosting 500 runs, with the Tigers doing so for only the third time in their 13-year history.
-With New Age input
