Bangladesh take control against Black Caps

The Black Caps face an uphill battle to avoid defeat in their opening home Test of the summer against Bangladesh.

Heading into the final day of the Test in Mount Maunganui, Bangladesh could start dreaming of their first success in New Zealand.

Bangladesh bowler Ebadot Hossain recorded career-best figures to put his side in with a chance of an upset against the world test champions on day five on Wednesday.

The Black Caps were 147-5 at stumps on day four, with a 17-run lead over Bangladesh’s first innings total.

Earlier in the day, Bangladesh resumed the penultimate day of the Test on 401-6 and number eight batter Mehidy Hasan was in the action straight away.

Black Caps spinner Rachin Ravindra nearly had New Zealand off to a good start in the third over of the morning when Mehidy was given out LBW but Mehidy reviewed the decision and the TV umpire overturned it.

Pace bowler Neil Wagner thought he had Mehidy in the next over – but again the TV umpire overturned the onfield umpire’s out decision.

Bangladesh’s Mehidy Hasan Miraz receives attention to his arm during play on day four of the first cricket test.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Mehidy then was hit on the arm by Tim Southee and had a long injury break while he got treated on the field.

Southee finally got Mehidy for 47 runs.

The wicket broke a drought for Southee who had not taken a scalp in 468 balls bowled since the Test against India in November.

Kyle Jamieson took New Zealand’s second wicket of the morning session, removing the other overnight batter Yasir Ali for 26.

Southee claimed another before Trent Boult took his fourth wicket and ended Bangladesh’s innings late in the first session with a 130-run lead.

New Zealand survived three overs before lunch but lost stand-in captain Tom Latham for 14 runs six overs after the break.

Devon Conway, who scored a century in New Zealand’s first innings, was out for 13 in the second innings.

Opener Will Young settled in and brought up his 50 runs off 137 balls, his second half century of the match.

Young was building a solid partnership with Ross Taylor before Young was out for 69 to the bowling of Ebadot.

Henry Nicholls lasted two balls before Ebadot picked up his second wicket in the over.

In his next over Ebadot had Tom Blundell out LBW, as the Black Caps faltered and the pace bowler took his fourth wicket of the match.

Taylor, in his penultimate Test match before he retires from international cricket, will start the final day on 37 and he be alongside young allrounder Ravindra who is on six.