An immensely special chapter has uncovered in Bangladesh cricket history as as the Tigers pulled off a crushing eight-wicket victory over world champions New Zealand at Mount Maunganui on Wednesday.
The tourists needed only 40 runs in their second innings for the historic win, their first ever in New Zealand and only their sixth in 61 away Tests.
Having bundled the Kiwis out for 169 within 11 overs of a fiery spell of pace bowling on the start of the fifth day, Bangladesh, on the cusp of history, required 40 to win – only their sixth in 61 away matches and the first taste of glory against New Zealand in the longest format. This victory also marks the first away win against
the Kiwis across all formats and also the first triumph over the topmost ranked Test side.
Despite the hiccups of Shadman Islam (3) departing early and Najmul Hossain Shanto (17) near the finish line and even with all the glorious uncertainties that Test cricket may have pulled out of its hat, nothing could have gone wrong for Bangladesh today, it seemed. Skipper Mominul Haque (13) and Mushfiqur Rahim (3)
remained unbeaten to complete the formalities as Bangladesh took no more than 17 overs to arguably reach their own peak of cricketing success after achieving Test status back in the year 2000.
The Tigers have displayed a tremendous team effort throughout the Test match at the Bay Oval and even substitute fielder Taijul Islam had to join the party in the end. Taijul conjured a breath-taking catch near the boundary at deep midwicket to send the last New Zealand batter Trent Boult (8) back to the pavillion, leaving
bowler Mehedi Hasan Miraz and his teammates in an absolute ecstasy.
Earlier, Ebadot Hossain had nipped New Zealand’s hope on the bud by eliminating the experienced Ross Taylor, playing his last series for the Kiwis. Ebadot was not going to just settle for the prized scalp as he took out both Taylor (40) and Kyle Jamieson (0) in a span of 11 deliveries. At 160 for seven, the Tigers were all
over the Kiwis.
The Mount Maunganui might be an extinct volcano but both Ebadot and Taskin Ahmed seem to have been channeling its energy from a distant past. Taskin, on fire from the onset, cleaned up Tim Southee for a duck before tempting overnight batter Rachin Ravindra (16) to give a leading edge to wicketkeeper Liton Das.
Bangladesh have clearly dominated the majority of the sessions in the Test and have been the superior side by a margin. A total team effort took the Tigers to a score of 458 and to a healthy first innings lead of 140 despite none of the batter scoring a century. Ebadot, whose inclusion in the side was somewhat questioned,
appeared as the unlikely hero to steal the show from the fourth day’s evening session onward.
And the intensity and execution from the Tigers on the fifth and final day was a matter of the Test match reaching its logical conclusion.
-With The Daily Star input
