Bangladesh ended their long wait for their first victory over New Zealand in New Zealand as Mominul Haque-led visiting side stunned the world Test champions by 8 wickets in the first of a 2-Test series in Mount Maunganui on Wednesday.
Bangladesh have been touring New Zealand since 2001. They had played 32 matches across all formats before the Test in Mount Maunganui and lost all of them. The victory in the New Year’s Test is also their first-ever win over New Zealand in the longest format of the game in 16 attempts.
Bangladesh have also become the first Asian side to beat New Zealand in New Zealand in Tests since Pakistan’s 10-wicket victory in Hamilton in January 2011.
Riding on Ebadot Hossain’s 6-wicket haul in the 2nd innings and a collective batting effort in the first innings, Bangladesh cruised to victory in the first session on Day 5. Despite the absence of their No. 1 all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, the Asian side pinched above their weight for a memorable victory.
What a way to start the year for bangladesh cricket. Big congratulations to the captain, players and coaching stuff.
— Shakib Al Hasan (@Sah75official) January 5, 2022
WANTED TO INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION: EBADOT
Speaking after bowling Bangladesh to glory, fast bowler Ebadot said: “We have come here for the last 11 years and not won a game. When we came this time, we set a goal and we said to ourselves we can do it. New Zealand are Test Champions and if we beat them then it will inspire the next generation to do the same.”
First win v New Zealand in New Zealand (in all formats)
First Test win v New Zealand
First away Test win against a team in the top five of the ICC Rankings
12 crucial #WTC23 points!History for Bangladesh at Bay Oval!#NZvBAN pic.twitter.com/wTtmHfCITZ
— ICC (@ICC) January 5, 2022
Chasing 40 to win on the morning session on Day 5, Bangladesh lost openers Shadman Islam and first-innings batting hero Najmul Hossain Shanto early but captain Mominul Haque and senior batter Mushfiqur Rahim took them past the finish line.
Fittingly, it was senior campaigner Mushfiqur who hit the winning runs as Bangladesh players at the Bay Oval began celebrating the historic feat. It was a treat for the small number of Bangladesh fans who had turned up at the stadium as the visiting team completed an emphatic win over Tom Latham-led New Zealand side.
EBADOT TAKES 6, NZ BUNDLED OUT FOR 169
Overnight baiter Ross Taylor was the big target for Bangladesh on Day 5 morning and Ebadot Hossain, who was terrific on Tuesday evening with 3 quick wickets, got the big fish as early as the 2nd over of the day. Ebadot got the ball to seam in from wide of the crease and sneak through the gap between Taylor’s bat and pad.
The 27-year-old then removed Kyle Jamieson for 0 to bring down New Zealand’s end swiftly. Ebadot finished with figures of 6/46 as he went on to pick up the Player of the Match Award.
Taskin Ahmed and Mehidy Hasan then cleaned up the tail as New Zealand managed to set only a 40-run target.
It was a collective effort from Bangladesh as Mehidy and Shoriful Islam delivered the goods with the ball in the first innings to keep New Zealand down to 328 after their star batter Devon Conway hit a hundred.
With the bat, there were as many as four big contributions as opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy (78) and Shanto (64) added 104 runs for the 2nd wicket in the first innings. Following this, captain Mominul Haque hit 88 while wicketkeeper Liton Das hit 86 as the duo added 157 runs for the 5th wicket partnership.
Buoyed by their historic victory, Bangladesh will be hoping to pose another stern challenge when they take on New Zealand in the 2nd Test from January 9 in Christchurch.