Gazi makes world record as B’desh, NZ draw 1st Test

Shakib Al Hasan

Shakib Al Hasan scored a half-century to help Bangladesh reach 173-3 in their second innings to ensure the first cricket test between Bangladesh and New Zealand was drawn on the fifth and final day Sunday.

 

Shakib was unbeaten with Mominul Haque on 22 not out when the match was called after 48.2 overs as time ran out.

 

Shakib’s 50 came off only 39 balls that included four boundaries and three sixes.

 

After New Zealand declared its second innings on 287, Bangladesh made slow progress and lost three wickets — Tamim Iqbal (46), Anamul Haque (18) and Marshal Aiyub (31).

 

Bruce Martin finished with 2-62 and Ish Sodhi took one wicket.

 

New Zealand’s first innings total was 469 while Bangladesh scored 501.

 

Earlier, Sohag Gazi took a hat trick and finished with six wickets as New Zealand declared its second innings on 287-7 in the second session of the final day of the first test, setting Bangladesh 256 to win with most of two sessions remaining.

 

But the hosts did not show any urgency to chase the winning target.

 

New Zealand lost four quick wickets as Gazi stormed through the order, becoming the second Bangladeshi to claim a hat trick after Alok Kapali who did it against Pakistan in Peshwar in 2003.

 

It was Gazi’s seventh test match and he claimed all the six wickets to fall on the final day.

 

After dismissing Brendon McCullum (22), he claimed Corey Anderson (8), B.J. Watling for a duck and Doug Bracewell, also for a duck, adding to his strong performance in which he also scored a century not out.

 

In the tourists’ innings, Kane Williamson scored 74 and Peter Fulton made 59 to help New Zealand reach 218-3 at lunch.

 

New Zealand was trouble free for much of the morning session when Bangladesh struck late to take two wickets as the visitors took a 186-run lead at the break, with the game seemingly drifting toward a tame draw.

 

Williamson made his total off 150 balls that included two boundaries and one six while Fulton’s total came from three boundaries and two sixes off 189 balls before Gazi struck.

 

Ross Taylor was unbeaten on 31 at the break with skipper Brendon McCullum on 8 as Bangladesh was aiming for its first test win against New Zealand, having lost eight and drawn one of the nine matches the teams have played.

 

New Zealand, resuming on 117-1, looked comfortable batting on a pitch that seemed solid in slightly overcast conditions. Play resumed 30 minutes early to make up for time lost because of rain a day earlier at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.

 

Williamson, who scored 114 in the first innings, was at ease before he attempted a pull-shot off Gazi, rewarding a catch at forward short leg to Anamul Haque.

 

Gazi trapped Peter Fulton lbw earlier.

 

Bangladesh was dismissed on 501 in reply to the visitors’ first innings total of 469.

Source: UNBConnect