Lower-order batsman Sohag Gazi returned New Zealand the same pain that they had inflicted upon Bangladesh when he scored a century batting at number eight to propel Bangladesh to take the lead in the first Test in Chittagong on Saturday. New Zealand rode on number eight BJ Witling’s 103 to heap 469 runs from a precarious position that saw them lose their first seven wickets for 282 runs at one stage.
Watling, given a reprieve through a no-ball while on four, used his slice of luck to build two crucial partnerships of 57 and 127 runs respectively with Doug Bracewell and Trent Boult for the eighth and tenth wicket.
They came as a body blow for Bangladesh as the hosts lost their grip on the match and stared at a potential defeat until Sohag did a tit for tat to take the Tigers to 501, their third highest Test total that ensured safety in the see-saw battle.
Despite Mominul Haque’s epic 181, Bangladesh were in danger of conceding a sizable deficit, which, coupled with a good second innings total, could have taken New Zealand on the threshold of a winning position.
But Sohag, with his unbeaten 101, denied them any control and rather gave Bangladesh an upper hand as the Tigers gained an unexpected 32-run first innings lead.
With New Zealand facing a race against time if Bangladesh could claim some early wickets in the second innings, they would have taken them to a commanding position leading into the fifth and final day.
Though it did not happen, Bangladesh have little to complain with their morale victory already ensured in the match heading towards a potential draw.
The Tigers have Sohag to thank for after taking them to such a comfortable position from which they could now relax and enjoy the fifth day of a Test match, something they do not taste too often.
Resuming his innings on 28 with Bangladesh trailing by 89, Sohag guided Robiul Islam to garner 105 runs for the ninth wicket, which not only erased the deficit but killed some time as well.
‘I was very motivated by [BJ] Watling’s innings,’ Sohag said after the end of the fourth day’s play. ‘We were telling each other in the dressing room that if [Watling] could do it, why can’t I?
‘There is no help for the bowlers on this wicket. If a batsman plays with a straight bat, it is tough to get him out.’
Sohag has two first-class centuries to his name and he also underlined his batting credentials with an unbeaten innings of 82 runs from just 52 balls in a warm-up match in Sri Lanka earlier this year.
Naturally there was no surprise in seeing him becoming the third Bangladeshi to score a Test century batting at number eight after Khaled Mashud and Mahmudullah, who had achieved the feat against West Indies and New Zealand respectively.
Sohag, however, said he was grateful to Robiul, who did a Boult job, scoring 33.
‘I am grateful to Robiul [Islam] because he gave me good support,’ said Sohag. ‘At one stage, he came to me and said that he is holding his end up so that I can get the hundred.
‘It is obviously a good feeling to score a century. I was excited even after getting to 50 because I had never scored one at the international level. So, the hundred was just very special.’
-With New Age input
