Bangladesh created history during their recent tour of New Zealand. In the first of the two Tests between the sides that was played from January 1-5, 2022 at Mount Maunganui in New Zealand, Bangladesh won by eight wickets – their maiden victory against New Zealand in Test cricket.
Despite their dismal record in the longest format of the game. Bangladesh remain one of the best supported teams, not just in their home grounds, but also away from home. Their fans had plenty to cheer in the first Test between New Zealand and Bangladesh as they emerged unexpected winners. The flag-waving fans couldn’t hide their delight as their smiling faces revealed the whole story.
Bangladesh’s victory was a truly collective effort. After winning the toss and electing to bowl first. Bangladesh bowled out New Zealand for 328 with four different bowlers chipping in with wickets. Bangladesh then batted a phenomenal 176.2 overs for their 458, a lead of 130. Four different batsmen scored fifties, with captain Mominul Haque top-scoring with his 88 and Liton Das making 86. After Ebadot Hossain and Taskin Ahmed ran through the Kiwis in the second innings, the visitors reached the target for the fall of just their openers. While veteran Mushfiqur Rahim scored the winning runs to take them to 42 for two, their skipper Mominul was at the non-strikers end.
Ebadot Hossain and Taskin Ahmed’s bowling performance in the second innings was instrumental in Bangladesh winning the match.
Ebadot finished with figures of six for 46 in New Zealand’s second innings, while Taskin chipped in with three for 36 as the two bowlers combined for nine of the ten wickets to fall while restricting the hosts to just 169 in their second essay.
Ebadot’s six for 46, in fact, are the second-best bowling figures for a Bangladeshi pacer in Test cricket, behind only Shahadat Hossain’s six for 27 against South Africa in Dhaka, Bangladesh in 2008.
Ebadot’s six-for in the second innings, along with his one wicket in the first, earned him the player of the match award.
A number of firsts and the end of streaks
Bangladesh’s win at Mount Maunganu in the first Test was their first-ever victory in Test cricket against New Zealand. It came in the 17th scheduled Test between the two sides. While one of these Tests was cancelled without a ball being bowled. New Zealand had won on 12 occasions, with the three remaining matches ending as draws
This victory, in fact was Bangladesh’s first-ever win in any format against New Zealand in New Zealand New Zealand had won each of the previous 32 matches across formats at home against Bangladesh, the longest such streak for any team at home against a single opponent
The loss also brought an end to New Zealand’s longest unbeaten streak in Tests at home. Their unbeaten run had started after their defeat against South Africa in 2017 and spanned 17 consecutive home Tests New Zealand’s run of eight Test series wins at home also ended with this defeat.
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