Wellington, Nov 29
Taijul Islam kept Bangladesh ahead after the second day’s play in Sylhet, even as Kane Williamson levelled with Don Bradman and Virat Kohli on 29 Test centuries. The left-arm spinner took four wickets to inspire a strong reply from the hosts, who held a 44-run lead at stumps. New Zealand reached 266 for 8 when play was called off early due to bad light for the second day in a row.
Williamson held the New Zealand innings together with a patient 104 which he essayed off 205 balls with 11 fours. He kept holding one end up with the middle order, but occasional wickets at the other end restricted his partnerships to only 54, 66 and 78 runs for the third, fourth and sixth wickets, respectively. Bangladesh even struck twice late in the day, when Taijul removed Williamson and Ish Sodhi with the second new ball. He had also given Bangladesh their first breakthrough early in the first session.
But earlier, they had lost their remaining wicket off the day’s first ball when Tim Southee had Shoriful Islam lbw. In reply, New Zealand made a cautious start before their openers Tom Latham and Devon Conway succumbed to tight spin bowling. Latham, usually a heavy-scorer against Bangla-desh, top edged a sweep off Taijul, which was easily caught by Nayeem Hasan. Mehidy Hasan Miraz then had Conway caught at silly point, where debutant Shahadat Hossain took a smart catch diving to his right. New Zealand regrouped through Williamson and Henry Nicholls by adding 54 for the third wicket. Nicholls remained cagey during his stay of 19 runs from 42 balls, before edging Shoriful. It was the first time in 13 years that Bangladesh took New Zealand’s first three wickets for less than a hundred runs. In Shoriful’s following over, however, Bangladesh missed out on a caught-behind dismissal when Daryl Mitchell edged the ball but there wasn’t a convincing appeal from Bangladesh.
The Snickometer confirmed the nick afterwards. It cost Bangladesh considerably given the match situation, as Mitchell and Williamson added 66 for the fourth wicket. But Taijul, returning for his second spell, got Mitchell, who made 41 with three fours and a six, stumped first ball to give Bangladesh a much-needed breakthrough at that stage. Williamson then got a couple of lives either side of the tea break. First, Taijul dropped a simple chance at midwicket when Williamson pulled Nayeem when on 63. When on 70, Williamson miscued a pull off Nayeem but Shoriful dropped another simple chance at deep-backward square leg. Nayeem was left bemused but the Tom Blundell wicket in between the two dropped catches probably soothed the pain.
Against the run of play, part-timer Mominul Haque removed Glenn Phillips just when he was looking dangerous.
He made 42 off 62 balls with five fours and a six, before edging the left-arm spinner to slip where Najmul Hossain Shanto took a good, low catch.
Williamson reached his century five overs before the second new ball was due; but as soon as it was taken, Taijul removed him with his best ball of the day.
Williamson came forward, but had the new ball slip between his bat and pad. Sodhi was Taijul’s fourth wicket of the day, caught neatly at short leg by Shahadat.
