Bangladesh pick up two more in second session

Sports Desk News :: Bangladesh picked up two wickets in the second session of their first Test against New Zealand in Sylhet as the visitors ended the session on 168-4.

Bangladesh currently lead by 142 runs as Kane Williamson (66*) and Tom Blundell (1*) are at the crease for the Blackcaps.

Taijul Islam picked up two wickets, while Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Shoriful Islam have picked up one each.

However, the feeling Bangladesh would go into the tea break with is disappointment as they had the chance to pick up the crucial wicket of Williamson.

Minutes before the break, Williamson tried to take on spinner Nayeem Hasan with a sweep but didn’t time and it looked like a simple catch heading to Taijul, who spilt it.

This meant New Zealand’s best batter is still at the crease with the Tigers’ lead shrinking.

At the start of the second session, Williamson formed a 54-run partnership with Henry Nicholls (19), which was broken by Shoriful on his first ball after lunch. Nicholls prodded at a harmless delivery, and Nurul Hasan Sohan behind the stumps did the rest of the job.

Shoriful could have had another soon after as Daryl Mitchell played at a wide delivery and the Bangladesh team appealed but the umpire was unmoved. Wicketkeeper Sohan did not seem convinced, and thus Bangladesh decided against a review.

However, replays showed that Mitchell had indeed nicked it and a review would have seen the on-field call reversed.

With that reprieve, Mitchell then formed a 66-run stand with Williamson, which Taijul broke as Mitchell tried to step down against the left-arm spinner but completely missed the delivery, leading to the stumping of the batter.

In the remainder of the session, Bangladesh tried hard for another wicket and almost got it but a dropped chance and a huge LBW appeal turned down saw New Zealand start the third session with only four-down.

Earlier in the day, Taijul and Shoriful Islam came out to bat for Bangladesh in the morning as the score read 310-9 and they could stay there for just a ball as Tim Southee trapped Taijul LBW, although the umpire did not give him out.

However, following a review, the decision was overturned and the Bangladesh innings came to an end.

Bangladesh, expectedly, started with spin at one end as Mehidy took the ball, and in his first over, he had a big shout for LBW against Davon Conway.

The umpire said no and Bangladesh opted to review, which was wasted as Conway was struck outside the line.

The opening stand of Conway and Tom Latham (21) lasted 12.5 overs before the latter tried to sweep Taijul but could only manage a top edge, which Nayeem Hasan at fine leg gobbled up with ease.

Conway (12) departed a few minutes down the line when Miraz found his inside edge, which resulted in the ball hitting his pad and going up in the air, and debutant Shahadat Hossain at silly point took a brilliant one-handed catch to send the Blackcaps opener back to the hut.

Bangladesh could not manage another wicket in the session but lost Zakir Hasan to injury for the time being as he was struck in his right foot while fielding at silly point.