Encouraging signs from Ebadot and Co but Kiwis hold ground
New Zealand are 92 without loss after 25 overs at Lunch but Bangladesh did manage to threaten the Kiwis on several occasions during the first session at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch today.
Skipper Tom Latham is leading the Kiwis from the front and has yielded a brisk knock of 66 off 83 balls in trying conditions, well supported by a more cautious partner in Will Young, not out on 26 off 67 deliveries.
New Zealand, trailing the two-match Test series 1-0, started off the second Test brightly with Latham striking a couple of boundaries in the first two overs as Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam searched for rhythm on an emerald Hagley wicket. Nurul Hasan Sohan, in for Mushfiqur Rahim, kept wickets right from the start.
The Hagley Oval wicket is supposed to provide significantly greater bounce on average compared to the one at the Bay Oval and it was evident from the first few overs, with the way Taskin and Shoriful's deliveries from a good length area carried to Sohan, who appeared to be struggling to adjust to the late swing and bounce behind the stumps. Sohan failed to grab two seemingly routine deliveries so far but fortunately for the Tigers, those were not potential catching dismissals.
The Tigers have not hit the right channels consistently as much as they would have liked to. The likes of Taskin, who got warned for running onto the pitch, has been either too short or too full on average.
Shoriful almost found the outside edge in the innings' sixth over as Latham played and missed a classic left-armer's seaming delivery, one that shaped away from pitching outside the line of off stump. Apart from that delivery and the one which struck above the pads in the eight over, the Kiwi openers looked quite comfortable and proactive, especially Latham, in the middle as New Zealand moved swiftly to 19 without loss at the end of 7 overs.
Then Ebadot Hossain, who decided the fate of the last Test late in the game, was introduced in the ninth over and immediately made an impact. Latham did welcome Ebadot with a well struck boundary before being trapped in front twice in the second and the fifth ball of the over. However, the extra bounce at the Hagley Oval saved Latham as the Kiwi skipper managed to take successful reviews, nullifying umpire's decision on both occassions. The second leg before shout had appeared plumb in front, where the ball struck Latham high in the pads as he rocked onto the back foot.
Shoriful bowled the next over from the other end and produced another beauty, a ball that shaped away late to beat Latham's bat and Ebadot returned to bowl a fine outswinger, which Young did well to leave.
The Kiwis brought their 50 with a lucky strike as Latham's attempt to slash Ebadot through point flew over and beyond the reach of the fielder at first slip. With no extras bowled by the pacers, Latham was on 32 and Young on 18 by the end 15 overs. Even though Ebadot conceded five boundaries in his four overs of spell by then, he looked the most likely bowler to make inroads.
Young got lucky in the Taskin's seventh over, innings' 17th, when he inside edged a rising delivery almost on the stump. Ebadot, in the next over, got one to nip back to strike Young in the pads. However, skipper Mominul Haque made the right decision by not opting for a review.
After striking 11 boundaries, Latham brought up his fifty in 65 balls with a single off Shoriful in the 21st over. The next over, Taskin struck Latham in front and the Tigers opted for a review this time with the umpire having given not out. However, the tv umpire stuck with the umpire's call without thoroughly reviewing it as it was not clear why the decision did not go in Bangladesh's favour.
Bangladesh pacers have shown encouraging signs on the first morning but they have to be consistent in hitting the right corridors in the next two sessions without trying too many things. New Zealand camp, on the other hand, would be more than happy to head to Lunch without any damage on their scoreboard.