Bangladesh have ended New Zealand’s 17-match unbeaten run on home soil with a stunning eight-wicket victory at Mount Maunganui.
The world Test champions were dismissed for 169 in their second innings, with Bangladesh knocking off the 40 runs required for victory for the loss of two wickets as the tourists beat New Zealand in a Test match for the first time.
The hosts had begun day five on 147-5, a slender lead of 17 runs, and were quickly on the back foot as seamer Ebadot Hossain clean-bowled Ross Taylor for 40, then removed Kyle Jamieson for a duck in his first two overs. Taskin Ahmed chipped in with the wicket of all-rounder Rachin Ravindra for 16.
The Black Caps were rocking on 160-8 and Bangladesh finished them off, Taskin removing Tim Southee’s middle stump before Trent Boult departed for eight as he holed out in the deep. There was a brief early wobble for the tourists when Shadman Islam was caught behind for three off Southee’s bowling.
Najmul Hossain Shanto and the captain, Mominul Haque, steadied the ship and by the time Najmul was caught smartly by Taylor for 17, the finish line was in sight. Mominul, who scored 13 not out, and the experienced Mushfiqur Rahim (unbeaten on five) ushered Bangladesh to their historic triumph.
Ebadot finished with second-innings figures of 6-46, with his early wickets key to forcing a result. The former volleyball player, who is still employed by the Bangladesh Air Force, was named player of the match. “It’s a long journey, volleyball to cricket … I’m enjoying cricket now,” he said after the game.
In the first innings, New Zealand had posted an impressive 328, Devon Conway top-scoring with 122, but they found themselves 130 runs behind at halfway. Bangladesh made 458 in response, with four players – Mominul (88), Liton Das (86), Mahmudul Hasan Joy (78) and Najmul (64) reaching half-centuries.
Bangladesh’s first win in any format of the game in New Zealand gives them a 1-0 lead in the two-match series, with the second Test starting in Christchurch on Sunday. The hosts will be eager to bounce back from their first home Test defeat since South Africa won at Wellington in March 2017.
