Bangladesh batsman Mominul Haque celebrates after hitting a century on the fourth day of the second Test against New Zealand at the Sher-e Bangla Stadium in Mirpur today. Photo: Firoz Ahmed
Mominul Haque hit back to back Test century as the Tigers dominated the fourth day of the second Test against New Zealand at the Sher-e Bangla Stadium in Mirpur today.
Opener Tamim Iqbal returned to the pavilion posting patient 70 as he edged to Ross Taylor in the slips off the bowling of Kane Williamson.
The Tigers were 269 for three with a 114-run lead at the end of the fourth day.
Mominul, who hammered a 181-run inning in the first innings of the first Test against the visitors in Chittagong, was playing on 126.
Shakib Al Hasan was accompanying him on 32.
State-run television BTV and satellite channel Gazi TV broadcast the match live.
Mominul collected a number of records on the way to his second consecutive ton, as he became the second Bangladesh batsman after Tamim Iqbal to score back to back Test centuries.
He also topped the list of highest run aggregates in a Test series by any Bangladesh batsman, as he passed Habibul Bashar’s total of 379 runs made against Pakistan in 2003.
Opener Anamul Haque was the first Bangladesh batsman to depart in the day after scoring 22.
He was dismissed by pacer Neil Wagner. Anamul was followed by Marshal Ayub, who offered a simple catch to Ross Taylor off the bowling of Wagner on 9.
Earlier in the session, Tigers wrapped up New Zealand’s tail quickly as they claimed the remaining two wickets within seven overs.
Ish Sodhi was run out after scoring a fighting 58 from no. 10 while Trent Boult was out lbw off the bowling of Abdur Razzak for 4.
BJ Watling remained unbeaten on 70 at the close of the Black Cap’s first innings as they amassed 437 runs.
Bangladesh were all out for 282 in their first innings, with Tamim contributing 95 to the total.
Marshal Ayub and Mominul Haque also chipped in with 41 and 47 respectively.
Several Bangladesh batsmen got solid starts, but could not build on those in face of a rampant Neil Wagner, who claimed the first five-wicket haul of his Test career with a figure 5 for 64.
Bangladesh made one change to their team from the first Test, as pacer Al-Amin Hossain was handed down his debut, replacing injured pacer Robiul Islam.
The visitors also made a change in their squad, replacing left-arm spinner Bruce Martin with left-arm fast bowler Neil Wagner.
The first Test in the series was a drawn game, with several Bangladeshi players achieving significant personal milestones.
Sohag Gazi made history as he became the first player in the history of Test cricket to claim a hat-trick and score a century in the same match.
Mominul Haque also scored a classy 181 in the first innings, thus registering the third highest individual Test tally for Bangladesh.
The Black Caps are looking to erase the daunting memories of the ODI whitewash in 2010 with a series win here.
The Tigers, on the other hand, look to finally win a Test against New Zealand — who they have lost to eight times and drawn with twice.
SQUADS
Bangladesh
Tamim Iqbal, Anamul Haque, Marshall Ayub, Shakib Al Hasan, Nasir Hossain, Mominul Haque, Sohag Gazi, Rubel Hossain, Al-Amin Hossain, Abdur Razzak, Mushfiqur Rahim
New Zealand
BB McCullum, Corey J Anderson, DAJ Bracewell, IS Sodhi, N Wagner, PG Fulton, LRPL Taylor, BJ Watling, HD Rutherford, KS Williamson, TA Boult
Source: The Daily Star
