Taijul stars in Bangladesh’s maiden Test win against New Zealand at home

Taijul Islam bagged his 12th five-wicket haul in Test cricket as Bangladesh registered a commanding 150-run victory against New Zealand in the first Test in Sylhet on Saturday (December 2). A fighting 58 from Daryl Mitchell kept the hosts waiting for a while on the final day but Bangladesh eventually bagged the three remaining wickets to secure their first Test win against New Zealand at home. Taijul, the architect of the win, returned figures of 6-75 in the second innings and finished with 10 wickets in the match, his second ten-fer in Tests.

New Zealand began the day on 113/7 chasing 332 for an unlikely victory. Mitchell, who got past fifty early in the day, kept the Bangladesh spinners at bay and received some support from Ish Sodhi as they batted together for 15 overs. This was the most deliveries spent at the crease by a pair in this innings as they tried to stonewall Bangladesh’s path to victory. But the partnership came to an end when Mitchell, who was happy to sweep and reverse-sweep, found deep backward square leg to give Nayeem Hasan his second wicket.

New Zealand skipper Tim Southee and Sodhi then decided to go on the attack, with the former even coming striking sixes off Taijul and Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Sodhi, meanwhile, took a review to reverse an onfield decision when he was given out caught at bat-pad off Nayeem. The ninth wicket pair added 46 runs in quick time but the association was ended by Taijul who had Southee caught in the deep attempting a pull. The left-arm spinner finished it off with the wicket of Sodhi as Bangladesh wrapped it up inside the first session on the final day.

Bangladesh had seized the advantage on the fourth day thanks to Taijul Islam, who dismissed the cream of New Zealand’s batting, with the other bowlers complementing the spinner well. Barring some resistance from Mitchell, there was there was nothing great about the visiting team’s batting effort as they wilted under the spin pressure and were reduced to 102/7. Despite the fight from Mitchell on the final day, Bangladesh completed the job in the first session to take a 1-0 lead in the two match series.

Bangladesh posted 310 in their first innings, riding on Mahmudul Hasan Joy’s 86 and useful contributions from the rest of the batting order. New Zealand, in reply, posted 317 with Kane Williamson scoring 104, which effectively left both teams in a second innings shootout. Bangladesh were in early trouble but skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto’s 105, along with half-centuries from Mushfiqur Rahim and Mehidy, left New Zealand with a steep target, one which they fell well short of.

Brief scores:
Bangladesh 310 (Mahmudul Hasan Joy 86; Glenn Phillips 4-53) & 338 (Najmul Hossain Shanto 105; Ajaz Patel 4-148) beat New Zealand 317 (Kane Williamson 104; Taijul Islam 4-109) & 181 (Daryl Mitchell 58; Taijul Islam 6-75) by 150 runs.