Mominul Haque took some momentum away from New Zealand after the Kiwi tail-enders gave the tourists the upper hand on the second day of the first Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong on Thursday. Few would have expected Mominul to bat so aggressively when he came to the crease with Bangladesh already struggling at 8-2 in response to New Zealand’s first innings total of 469.
However, the batsman sprung a surprise on everyone by batting uncharacteristically quickly, leaving New Zealand’s bowling in total disarray and taking Bangladesh to 103-2 at the close of day two.
The Tigers still trail New Zealand by 366 runs, but the pressure might have been insurmountable had Mominul not produced some special moments in the middle. The left-hander was unbeaten on 77 at close, with debutant Marshall Ayub accompanying him overnight on 21 not out.
New Zealand smelled blood after taking a wicket in the very first over of the innings, when Tamim Iqbal edged Trent Boult to gully for a golden duck.
Anamul Haque’s frustrations in Test cricket continued for another innings when he was trapped lbw for just three runs – that too after being given a reprieve with his score on one when he edged to second slip off a no-ball.
Another cheap wicket could have effectively ended the contest for Bangladesh, but Mominul was not ready to give anything up without a fight.
He opened up before anyone could take notice and hit Bruce Martin for three consecutive fours in the bowler’s first over.
Doug Bracewell was next on the receiving end, conceding three boundaries to Mominul in one over, before the batsman welcomed highly-regarded leg-spinner Ish Sodhi to Test cricket with a sweetly struck sweep shot in his first over.
Mominul raced to his fifty off just 36 balls, a feat totally unbecoming of a batsman known for his cool approach and curbed aggression. His unusual batting could have easily earned him some harsh criticism, but he seemed unconcerned.
New Zealand hurt their own cause by bowling too many bad balls and Mominul, perhaps not wanting to put unnecessary pressure on his side, showed them no undue respect.
Mominul’s first highlight of the day did not, however, involve his bat.
After New Zealand embarrassed the Tigers’ regular bowlers with their 127-run last-wicket stand, Mominul lured BJ Watling out of his crease and Mushfiqur Rahim completed the stumping to end the frustration.
Watling, the South African- born wicketkeeper, deserved special praise for taking New Zealand to such a position with his second Test century when it looked at times that 350 would be difficult for them to reach.
Bangladesh thought they had Watling on four when Sakib al Hasan caught him at cover off Rubel Hossain, but the umpires decided to check for a no-ball and the replay clearly indicated that Rubel had overstepped.
That would have reduced New Zealand to 293-8 – after already losing two wickets to Rubel and Razzak in the first two overs of the morning – but it was not to be. Watling made his second chance count, scoring 103 off 182 balls.
He added 57 runs with Bracewell before the epic tenth-wicket partnership with Boult changed the complexion of the innings.
Boult deserved special credit for not trying anything extravagant and just sticking to the basics, unlike typical number 11 batsmen. He was rewarded with his maiden Test fifty, finishing at 52 not out in what could be an invaluable innings in the context of the game.
-With New Age input
