Image Credit- AFP
After the second day of play in Sylhet, Taijul Islam
maintained Bangladesh’s lead, despite the fact that Kane Williamson tied Virat
Kohli and Don Bradman with 29 Test hundreds. The hosts had a 44-run lead at
stumps, but they responded strongly when the left-arm spinner claimed four
wickets. For the second day in a row, play was abandoned early owing to poor
light, and New Zealand managed to reach 266 for 8.
Williamson made a patient 104 from 205 balls,
including 11 fours, to hold the New Zealand innings together. He continued to
hold one end up with the middle order, but his partnerships only managed to
score 54, 66, and 78 runs for the third, fourth, and sixth wickets,
respectively, due to sporadic wickets at the other end.
Tim Southee had put Shoriful Islam out of his innings
with the first ball of the day, costing Bangladesh their last wicket. After a
cautious start, New Zealand’s openers, Devon Conway and Tom Latham, fell victim
to tight spin bowling. Usually a high scorer versus Bangladesh, Latham top
edged a sweep off Taijul, which Nayeem Hasan easily collected. Shahadat
Hossain, making his debut, made a brilliant catch diving to his right after
Mehidy Hasan Miraz had Conway caught at silly point.
Williamson and Henry Nicholls helped New Zealand
regroup, putting up 54 for the third wicket. Before shoriful was dismissed,
Nicholls scored 19 runs off of 42 balls while being reticent. Bangladesh
grabbed New Zealand’s first three wickets for fewer than a hundred runs for the
first time in thirteen years.
After that, Williamson was awarded a few lives on
either side of the tea break. Initially, Taijul let a straightforward
opportunity at midwicket slip when Williamson removed Nayeem at 63. Williamson
misplayed a pull off Nayeem when he was on 70, but Shoriful missed another easy
opportunity at deep-backward square leg. Though Nayeem was perplexed, the Tom
Blundell wicket that came in between the two mishandled catches most likely
eased his discomfort.
Part-timer Mominul Haque took down Glenn Phillips
against the flow of play, right when he appeared dangerous. After hitting five
fours and a six in his 42 off 62 balls, he edged the left-arm spinner to slip,
where Najmul Hossain Shanto made a nice low catch.
Five overs before the second new ball was due,
Williamson achieved his century; however, Taijul dismissed him with his best
ball of the day as soon as it was taken. Williamson attempted to advance, but
the fresh ball slipped by his bat and between his pad. Taijul’s fourth wicket
of the day came from Sodhi, who Shahadat took brilliantly at short leg.