New Zealand in Bangladesh 2013

First topic message reminder :

A new hectic cricket season is about to start, India and Australia will be playing ahorribly long 7 match ODI series, England and Australia wwill resume battle by the end of the year, Pakistan and South Africa will battle it out in the UAE, India may or may not tour South Africa at the end of the year, West Indies are scheduled to tour India in about the same time.
But it is New Zealand and Bangladesh who are kicking off the new season. New Zealand will be playing 2 tests, 3 ODIs and 1 T-20I during their 1 month tour.
Bangladesh have just declared their first test squad. Young opener Anamul Haque is recalled after he missed the Zimbabwe series due to exams, and Naeem Islam returns after injury. There is a recall for ODI regular Abdur Razzak to the test squad after 2 years. Young Marshall Ayub's consistency has been rewarded with his retention in the squad.
Bangladesh squad for the first test.
http://www.espncricinfo.com/bangladesh-v-new-zealand-2013-14/content/current/story/676199.html

The New Zealand test squad is without Daniel Vettori, Tim Southee and Martin Guptill due to injuries, though Southee is expected to be fit for the limited over leg of the tour and is named in the ODI and T-20I squads.
Test squad.
http://www.espncricinfo.com/newzealand/content/story/668923.html
Limited over squad.
http://www.espncricinfo.com/bangladesh-v-new-zealand-2013-14/content/story/671931.html
In between on the high-profile and hyped up tussles, power games in big board rooms and all kinds of controversies, hoping for some exciting cricket in a low-profile series.

This test hasn't been a great advert for test cricket for sure.

ShankyCricket wrote:This test hasn't been a great advert for test cricket for sure.

I am not entirely sure Shanky. For sure the pitch hasn't made for very exciting cricket as such. But both sides showed some fight throughout. The fights from the 2 lower orders have been creditable, and there was more life than some of the roads that they used to play on in India. And unlike in the case of established test sides, I won't say a draw won't be too bad a result for Bangladesh, as they've to come out of the losing culture and mentality first. But against a spin suspect side New Zealand, that too without their experienced spinner Daniel Vettori, perhaps Bangladesh could have played to their strength that's spin bowling and put NZ under pressure. Don't think the Bangladesh players aren't also too happy about the pitch as such, Sohag Gazi and Mominul did make it clear in their postmatch media interactions as much.
But overall, there has been a few interesting twists and fightbacks that have made it an interesting test for me at least.

msp83 wrote:

ShankyCricket wrote:This test hasn't been a great advert for test cricket for sure.

I am not entirely sure Shanky. For sure the pitch hasn't made for very exciting cricket as such. But both sides showed some fight throughout. The fights from the 2 lower orders have been creditable, and there was more life than some of the roads that they used to play on in India. And unlike in the case of established test sides, I won't say a draw won't be too bad a result for Bangladesh, as they've to come out of the losing culture and mentality first. But against a spin suspect side New Zealand, that too without their experienced spinner Daniel Vettori, perhaps Bangladesh could have played to their strength that's spin bowling and put NZ under pressure. Don't think the Bangladesh players aren't also too happy about the pitch as such, Sohag Gazi and Mominul did make it clear in their postmatch media interactions as much.
But overall, there has been a few interesting twists and fightbacks that have made it an interesting test for me at least.

Msp has done a good job in selling this Test to me. Certainly agree about there having been ''a few interesting twists and fightbacks''. A draw now does look extremely likely but I'll hold back on judging the race until it's been run.

And more moments of brilliance comeing together for Bangladesh in a test match. Its young Sohag Gazi at it again. He has taken all 6 wickets that have fallen today, including a hat trick when he took out Corey Anderson, BJ Watling and Dug Bracewell in 3 balls. He had taken out Brendon McCullum in the previous over.
A century and a 5for in a test match, only the very best all-rounders have done it in test cricket and not often. How many have scored a hundred, took a 5for and a hat trick in the same test match????!
New Zealand 260-7, leading by 228.

Looks like Gazi is the first cricketer in the world to score a test ton, take a test 5for and take a test hat trick in the same game!. Stupendous achievement for the 22 year old!. Go Gazi go!!!.

Mean while Ross Taylor has reached 50, and NZ's hopes of putting up a score beyond Bangladesh's reach in the 4th innings depends pretty much on him now.

Declare. NZ 287/7. BD need 256 in 45 overs. McCullum is pretty sure of draw but has taken his chances relying on his im-mature bowling attack. There is no chance for BD to win this test. But again it is a game of cricket. LETS see what happens.

New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum declared the innings closed at 287-7, leaving Bangladesh a total of 256 in 46 overs to chase down to win the match. Bangladesh are 11 without loss ater 4 overs, needing another 245 more to win. The match is interestingly poised at the moment.

msp83 wrote:Looks like Gazi is the first cricketer in the world to score a test ton, take a test 5for and take a test hat trick in the same game!. Stupendous achievement for the 22 year old!. Go Gazi go!!!.

who is this sohag Gazi?
is he a bits and pieces who had a freak test match...or a genuine test quality player

The 2 Bangladeshi openers, Tamim Iqbal and Anamul Haque haven't tried anything fancy, or even made a visible effort at pressing on, 20 without loss after 8 overs. Have they settled for the draw or are they trying to see the new ball off before opening up?

KP_fan wrote:

msp83 wrote:Looks like Gazi is the first cricketer in the world to score a test ton, take a test 5for and take a test hat trick in the same game!. Stupendous achievement for the 22 year old!. Go Gazi go!!!.

who is this sohag Gazi?
is he a bits and pieces who had a freak test match...or a genuine test quality player

Gazi is primarily an offspinner with obvious batting abailities. He has been a good bowler for Bangladesh in the last 6 tests he played, at times outbowling even Shakib Al Hasan. His batting abilities showed up only during some close finishes in a couple of ODIs, but yesterday's effort was a fine one. Certainly not a bits and pieces player, more of a bowling all-rounder.

Bangladesh 21 without loss after 10 overs, They seem to have settled for the draw.

Bangladesh go to tea at 38 without loss. 32 overs to be bowled in the last session, and Bangladesh need 218 or Nw Zealand need to engineer a complete Bangladesh collapse by that time. A draw seems the most likely outcome at the moment.

Bangladesh 69-1 after 23 overs. In no hurry whatsoever. Tamim Iqbal has moved along to 40, a good score would boost his confidence for the next game.

A bit surprised Bangladesh haven't gone for this. Obviously it's a slow pitch and I'm just following scorecards but you'd think that there isn't enough time for NZ to win... hence if a few wickets are lost the shutters can then be put up... even from here the rate is not totally unreasonable.

The pitch doesn't have much for bowlers in terms of being able to take wickets, but scoring isn't very easy on it. Going at over 5.5 isn't easy on the last day of a test, and perhaps they are being held back by the memories of a few last innings collapses.

Bangladesh are 99-2. Tamim Iqbal just got out for 46, Bruce Martin with his 2nd wicket. We are into the last hour of play. Can New Zealand engineer something remarkable here?

Well well well!. This game isn't quite over as yet. Now Marshall Ayub goes, Sodhi with the wicket, and Bangladesh are 101-3. Another 13 overs for New Zealand to get 7 wickets. Mominul Haque and Shakib Al Hasan at the crease, both new in the middle, both yet to get off the mark.

Shelsey93 wrote:A bit surprised Bangladesh haven't gone for this. Obviously it's a slow pitch and I'm just following scorecards but you'd think that there isn't enough time for NZ to win... hence if a few wickets are lost the shutters can then be put up... even from here the rate is not totally unreasonable.

So the Test ends in a draw as many of us have expected for the last day or so. However, that's a lot better for Bangladesh than I anticpated earlier in the proceedings when New Zealand put on 127 for their last first first innings wicket and advanced to 469. Bangladesh came back very well, especially considering their openers were back in the hutch very early on in their first dig.

A remarkable and unique achievement by Gazi. Even if he does nothing else in his career, his performance in this Test should one day make him a nominee, at least, for our Hall of Fame.

Like most here, I've only followed the match through cricinfo and msp's commentary updates. However, I did think McCullum's declaration was streetwise and well judged; 46 overs requiring Bangladesh to go at almost a run a ball. I fully understand Shelsey's comment that, ''if a few wickets are lost the shutters can then be put up''. Others have said similar elsewhere. However, once wickets start to fall, it's not always easy to halt the process. If Bangladesh had gone for it from the off and been, say, 45-3 off 8 overs, they would then have been facing the real prospect of defeat with 38 more overs to see out, particularly with a pretty young and inexperienced line up. They would also then have faced the even more real prospect of a blasting from me and countless others for such naive play! A hard call for Bangladesh to make - I don't blame them for their approach. A shame for Bangladesh that they didn't win this Test but, considering their position in it during the early stages, they've still still done well not to lose it.

A very interesting Test. Thanks to msp for drawing it to my attention.

Agree with everything Guildford said above.
A creditable draw for Bangladesh, more and more good individual performances are coming together for them in a test match, and that means good progress for them. Thamim Iqqbal had a first innings golden duck but he at least managed a start in the 2nd innings. Young Marshall Ayub on debut showed good temperament though he couldn't convert the 2 starts he got. A fine test for Mominul Haque, a big hundred in the first innings, then remained unbeaten 2nd time round. Shakib Al Hasan scored a confidence boosting unbeaten 50 in the 2nd innings, and picked up a couple of wickets in the first outing. But he was underbowled a bit in this test, perhaps the thumb injury that he picked up during the domestic OD competition may have something to do with it? Mushfiqur Rahim led well, kept well, and in the only innings he batted, scored 67. Nasir Hossain bowled more in this test, picked up a couple of wickets and scored a few runs. Sohag Gazi had a historic test match. Abdur Razzak's comeback to test cricket was effective with 3 first innings wickets. Even Robiul Islam who couldn't repeat his fine performances in Zimabwe with the ball made a significant contribution by scoring 33 at number 10, and involving in a 105 run 9th wicket partnership with Gazi in the Bangladesh first innings. So other than opener Anamul Haque and seamer Robel Hossain, all others made some creditable contributions for the team.
Hope for more of the same from Bangladesh, and also for a pitch that has a bit more life for the spinners for the 2nd test.

For New Zealand, Peter Fulton scored runs in both innings. Kane Williamson looked their best bet with the bat in both innings, and interestingly, KW managed to outbowl the 2 specialist spinners. Ross Taylor scored an unbeaten 50 in the 2nd innings, and BJ Watling's first innings hundred helped New Zealand get away from a tricky situation. Corey Anderson had a creditable debut particularly with the ball. Bracewell and boult bowled alright, but the 2 spinners bowled rather poorly. Opener Hamish Rutherford wasted away 2 starts and skipper Brendon McCullum and Taylor, the 2 senior batsmen did the same in the first innings. In the end, New Zealand were eventually saved by that special partnership between Watling and Boult in their first innings.
Bangladesh certainly emerged the better side in this test.

Trent Boult's performance with the bat stunned me..when he was in england for the test series, he looked like he couldnt even hold a bat!

Boult was involved in at least one last wicket partnership in England that rather irritated the bowlers wasn't he? Was it with Wagner?

Gazi- amazing performance and a first in Tests. Some reports suggested that this was the first time that anyone had done the hat-trick and hit a 100 in the same match.
Well, it was the first time in Tests but a handful of players have done it in first class cricket, including the incredible Mike Procter who managed it twice.
Of course, the unheralded Kevin James (Middx, Hants) had a unique achievement - four wickets in four balls and a century.

sirfredperry wrote:Gazi- amazing performance and a first in Tests. Some reports suggested that this was the first time that anyone had done the hat-trick and hit a 100 in the same match.
 Well, it was the first time in Tests but a handful of players have done it in first class cricket, including the incredible Mike Procter who managed it twice.
  Of course, the unheralded Kevin James (Middx, Hants) had a unique achievement - four wickets in four balls and a century.

Gazi had taken a 5for including a hat trick and scored a ton in a domestic First Class game in Bangladesh before his selection for the national side. Now he has done it in tests as well. How many others have done all 3 in a test match before? Hundred, hat trick and a 5for?

Gazi does look to be a tremendous prospect, however we must see how he fares away from home before making a concrete judgement on him.

The second test of the series starts tomorrow.
Hoping for an exciting game. The threat of rain is pretty much in the air though.

Bangladesh won the toss and are batting. Both teams have one change each. Niel Wagner comes in for Bruce Martin in the NZ side, while Al-Amin Hossain gets his test debut for Bangladesh, replacing Robiul Islam who didn't look fully fit in the last game.

Anamul Haque yet again failed to get going at the tap as he was dismissed early by Trend Boult for only 7. However Marshall Ayub continued to show promise without converting it into a substantial score as he was bowled by Wagner for 41. Tamim Iqbal and Mominul Haque are at the crease now, Tamim on 53, Mominul on 23.
Bangladesh 127-2.

Another promising start cut short for Bangladesh, as Mominul goes for 47. Anderson with the breakthrough for New Zealand as Mominul edges behind to wicketkeeper BJ Watling. Mominul was really looking good before that. Shakib Al Hasan joins Tamim.
Bangladesh 174-3.

Now Tamim goes. Big blow for Bangladesh. He has played the dab through slips successfully many times today, but on 95, after getting a boundary with the same shot in the over, he tried the shot again of Wagner, couldn't place it well and was brilliantly caught by Kane Williamson. Tamim misses out on a hundred yet again, and Bangladesh are 4 down for 208.

Bangladesh scoring at 4 an over, but the 4 wickets should worry them. At 223-4, Mushfiqur and Shakib need to build a partnership, the run rate doesn't matter.

Bangladesh 228-5 at tea as Shakib goes at the stroke of tea, LBW to Sodhi on the sweep. Those 2 wickets close to tea have undone a lot of the good work that the Bangladesh top order did. Other than Tamim, none of the 3 batsmen, Ayub, Mominul and Shakib managed to convert the start into a good score. Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim and Nasir Hossain have a big repair job at hand in the last session.

The expected rain has made the entry.
Frustrating!.

Rain washed out the 3rd session of the first day, so Bangladesh ended the day at 228-5. Rain is expected to have more say in the course of the match.

much needed knock from Tamim, he desperately needed that...honours even IMO after day one.

Bangladesh today morning were looking to score even quicker than they did yesterday and none of the batsmen had an extended stay at the wicket, getting bowled for 282. Niel Wagner picked up 5 wickets and Ish Sodhi took 3.
Shakib Al Hasan, who's bowling load is slowly being built up following his return from injury, then struck in each of his 2 overs before lunch to dismiss the New Zealand openers early to leave New Zealand at 32-2 at lunch.

Taylor and Williamson are taking the Bangladesh bowlers on and are going along at a good run rate. They are 73-2 with Williamson on 25 and Taylor on 17.

New Zealand 91-2. But aKane Williamson got hit on the helmet gril of a nasty short one from Robel Hossain and has retired hurt for 27. Skipper Brendon McCullum has joined Taylor.

Rain, early tea, more rain, and it looks pretty much like a last session wash out yet again. But Bangladesh had another success just before that, as Brendon McCullum's pull of Shakib Al Hasan found Rubel Hossain in the deep who took a fine catch to get the New Zealand skipper for only 11. Kane Williamson then came back out to bat but brought the rains also with him.
The weather forecast for the remaining days are better though.

play called off officially, 3rd session washed out. So New Zealand end the day at 107-3.

Kiwis moving into a strong position.

Fantastic maiden Test hundred by Corey Anderson. Good knocks by Williamson and Taylor.

Leading by 30 odd, down to Watling to get the lead up to 70-100

New Zealand 327-7. Watling and Wagner at the crease. Bangladesh would certainly want to limit the lead under 100. If New Zealand could reach 400, they would be in a good position going into days 4 and 5.

The New Zealand lower order is yet again adding very crucial runs. Ish Sodhi is batting on 23, Bracewell had scored 17, and Watling is holding it all together ones again. The first innings collapse through some rather mindless batting is biting Bangladesh on the back here. NZ 363-8, leading by 81.

By all accounts Ish Sodhi is more that capable with the bat. He's already got 4 FC 50s

You've gotta question Rahim's odd captaincy. After getting the wicket of Bracewell, he kept Nasir Hossain in the attack rather than bringing on Shakib

The New Zealand lower order is running away with the game here. Watling again, this time doing the job in the company of Sodhi. NZ 396-8. Trend Boult is yet to come!.

Excellent maiden Test 50 for Ish Sodhi.

Kiwis lead is already up to 135.

That's probably all she wrote for Bangladesh.

New Zealand finished day 3 at 419-8. An unbroken 84 run 9th wicket partnership has already stretched their first innings to 137. The first innings madness is going to cost Bangladesh in this game. New Zealand would now be hoping for at least a 150 run first innings advantage. And would then look to their bowlers to do the job to finish the Bangladesh challenge off.

135 lead with 3 wickets in hand.....if they can get a lead of 150-155 then game on

New Zealand were eventually bowled out for 437. Ish Sodhi was run-out for 58 and then Abdur Razzak got Trend Boult LBW for 4. BJ Watling remained not out on 70.
In their 2nd innings, Bangladesh lost Anamul Haque for 22 and Marshall Ayub for 9, Niel Wagner picking up both the wickets. Since then, Tamim Iqbal and Mominul Haque have resisted the New Zealand bowling with a hundred partnership. Mominul is batting on 71. Tamim has so far played a very UnTamim innings, he has faced 180 balls to score 59. Bangladesh are 169-2, ahead by 14. There is a long long way to go, but at least they've put up a fight so far.