BAN vs NZ | Mehidy And Taijul Put BAN On Top After 15-Wicket Opening Day

Mehidy Hasan Miraz celebrates Kane Williamson wicket late on Day 1 (x.com)

Bangladesh team finds itself on top of New Zealand in spite of getting folded up in just 66.2 overs on the opening day of their series-decider in Dhaka.

Santner, Phillips rip through Bangladesh

New Zealand spinners Ajaz Patel and Mitchell Santner dismantled Bangladesh’s top-order after the latter had won the toss and opted to bat first on a turning Dhaka surface. The two cricketers accounted for both openers as well as captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and number four Mominul Haque in quick succession as Bangladesh slipped from 29-0 to 47-4 in a space of four-and-a-half overs.

Senior man Mushfiqur Rahim and one-Test old Shahadat Hossain forced Bangladesh’s fighting recovery with cautious 30s until the former was adjudged out for obstructing the field.

Following Rahim’s untimely dismissal, Glenn Phillips ripped through Bangladesh’s lower-order with three wickets of his own before captain Tim Southee bagged the last man out at 172. Remarkably, the senior Kiwi fast bowler did not concede a single run throughout his near five-and-a-half over workload on the day.

Mehidy, Taijul fight back as NZ lose five

Taking field after a moderate first-innings effort, Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto unleashed spin from the very second over of the New Zealand innings, and persisted with the same until the close of play.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam reaped in the riches off the turning surface, as the duo accounted for half of New Zealand’s entire batting line-up by the time of stumps. While Miraz dismissed the likes of Devon Conway, Kane Williamson and Tom Blundell, his spin partner Taijul dismissed Tom Latham and Henry Nicholls as the visitors finished Day 1 at 55-5.

Unbeaten men Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips will resume New Zealand proceedings on Day 2, still 117 runs away from the hosts’ first innings total.

Brief Scores:

Bangladesh (First innings): 172 all out (66.2)
Mushfiqur Rahim 35 (83), Shahadat Hossain 31 (102)
Glenn Phillips 3-31 (12), Mitchell Santner 3-65 (28)

New Zealand (First innings): 55-5 (12.4)
Kane Williamson 13 (14), Daryl Mitchell 12* (10)
Mehidy Hasan Miraz 3-17 (6), Taijul Islam 2-29 (5.4)

New Zealand trail by 117 runs

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