Bangladesh take charge in 2nd Test against New Zealand

DHAKA, December 6

Mushfiqur Rahim’s brain-fade moment led to his obstructing-the-field dismissal but Bangladesh took charge of the second Test against New Zealand after 15 wickets tumbled on a frenzied opening day.

Chasing a series-levelling victory, New Zealand appeared to nose ahead in the contest after bundling out Bangladesh for 172 at Mirpur’s Shere Bangla Stadium.

The tourists were then reeling at 55/5 when bad light stopped play with only 79 overs bowled in the day.

Bangladesh slumped to 47/4 with New Zealand’s spin duo of Mitchell Santner (3/65) and Ajaz Patel (2/54) wrecking their top-order. Mushfiqur (35) and Shahadat Hossain (31) combined in a 57-run stand to steady the ship until the 41st over when New Zealand prised out a wicket in the unlikeliest of fashions. Mushfiqur defended a Kyle Jamieson delivery and then instinctively extended his right hand to push the ball away even though there was no chance of it hitting the stumps. The TV umpire upheld New Zealand’s appeal for what was previously known as handling-the-ball but was brought under obstructing-the-field dismissal in 2017.

Mushfiqur is the first Bangladesh batter to be given out obstructing the field, seven batsmen had previously been given out ‘handling the ball’ in Test cricket.

Brief scores: Bangladesh 172 (Mushfiqur 35, Shahadat 31; Philips 3/31, Santner 3/65); New Zealand 55/5 (Mehidy 3/17, Taijul 2/29). — Reuters