Rookies lift BD as Southee takes five

By our correspondents

January 21, 2017

CHRISTCHURCH: Rookie opener Soumya Sarkar led a makeshift Bangladesh to a competitive 289 but New Zealand claimed the honours on day one of the second Test in Christchurch on Friday.

“If you can bowl a side out on day one it’s a good effort,” New Zealand strike bowler Tim Southee said after taking his sixth five-wicket haul.

But, despite removing two of the more experienced Bangladesh batsmen in the first 11 overs, it took New Zealand until the last over to end the innings of an injury-hit side with seven players having three or fewer Tests to their name.

“We were pretty good at the start then they got a bit of a partnership going,” Southee said.

After being put into bat on a standard New Zealand green surface, Bangladesh were ready to punish anything short or wide on a pitch which offered swing but not extreme pace.

Their willingness to search for runs resulted in early casualties when senior batsmen Tamin Iqbal (five) and Mahmudullah (19) were removed inside 11 overs to be 38-2.

Shakib Al Hasan mounted a sterling fightback producing a rapid 127 with Soumya who celebrated his return to Test cricket and maiden innings as an opener with 86 off 104 balls.

In his previous three Tests in 2015, Soumya had batted at six or seven with a best score of 37, yet he felt he could have done better as an opener against New Zealand.

Soumya’s recall and elevation to opener came as injuries kept Imrul Kayes, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Mominul Haque, and a combined 98 Tests worth of experience, out of the match.

In their place were Soumya for his fourth Test and debutants Nurul Hasan and 18-year-old Nazmul Hossain with the fledgling trio all featuring well in the innings.

Soumya brought up his 50 driving Colin de Grandhomme to the boundary and had a life on 52 when dropped off the same bowler in the first of four missed chances by New Zealand.

Trent Boult claimed Soumya’s wicket after lunch to start a New Zealand counter-attack which produced three wickets for 14 runs in 16 deliveries to have Bangladesh at 179-5.

He removed Sabbir Rahman for seven while Shakib, coming off a double century and a duck in the first Test, reached 59 before he fell to Southee.

Test newcomers Nurul and Nazmul then mounted the second rescue mission as they defied New Zealand’s established bowling line-up with a 53-run partnership.

Nazmul departed for 18 while Nurul batted for nearly three hours to make 47 after being dropped on two and 36 while an edge on 25 went between first and second slip.

Rubel Hossain, who was struck on the helmet grille and the elbow of his bowling arm, was not out 16 at the close.

Southee finished with five for 94 while Boult took four for 87.

Sore Board

New Zealand won toss

Bangladesh 1st innings

*Tamim Iqbal c Watling b Southee 5

Soumya Sarkar c de Grandhomme b Boult 86

Mahmudullah c Watling b Boult 19

Shakib Al Hasan c Watling b Southee 59

Sabbir Rahman c Southee b Boult 7

Nazmul Hossain Shanto c Raval b Southee 18

†Nurul Hasan c Watling b Boult 47