'Still have work to do'

Shakib Al Hasan's three wickets towards the end of the day yesterday gave the Bangladesh team a reason to smile. The Bangladesh bowlers worked hard yesterday at Christchurch, but they just were not getting the rewards.

There were a few chances that were not taken on the field and a decision did not go their way as well. Right before tea, it seemed as though the hosts were on their way to taking a huge lead. However, the three wickets from Shakib helped the visitors come back into the game.

Bangladesh pacer Taskin Ahmed, who bowled a beautiful opening spell yesterday, believes that the Tigers have a good chance of even winning the game.

“We have taken seven New Zealand wickets. We are not entirely pleased since we have some work left in the innings. We will try to bowl them out early. I think our batsmen also have to give us a big score in the second innings.

“We have won from such positions in the past. If we do our best we can win even in away conditions,” said Taskin during the post-day press conference yesterday.

Playing just his second Test, Taskin believed that the pacers performed quite well yesterday and managed to utilise the conditions.

“All the bowlers contributed in different ways. Some bowled good spells and some took wickets while some checked the run-making. We bowled in the right areas, but we have to finish it better,” said Taskin.

“All three pace bowlers did well. Rubel and I are fast bowlers so we could be aggressive. We could swing the ball with pace. We bowled according to plan,” he added.

He believes that the momentum on a sporting wicket has shifted towards Bangladesh because of Shakib's spell at the end.

Unlike the wicket in Wellington, the track in Christchurch is likely to assist the bowlers as the Test progresses. As such, the third day will be quite crucial for the result of this game.

Going by Bangladesh's poor record in the second innings of a Test, a lot could depend on how much New Zealand score in their first innings. At the moment New Zealand are 29 runs behind with a set Henry Nicholls at the crease.

Bangladesh's highest total in the third or fourth innings of a Test away from home is 382, which they scored in Lord's back in 2010. It was a score they managed to reach courtesy of Tamim Iqbal's century.

Against New Zealand, they scored 282 while chasing 404 at Hamilton in 2010. Shakib Al Hasan scored a Test hundred back then. It is obvious that the Tigers will need a batsman to bat throughout if they want to have any chances of winning this Test.