NZ vs Ban, 1st Test, Stumps, Day 2: Mahmudul, Najmul shine as visitors fightback

New Delhi: Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Najmul Hossain Shanto starred with the bat as Bangladesh showed a terrific fightback against New Zealand on Day 2 of the ongoing first Test against New Zealand here at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on Sunday.

After bundling out the Kiwis at 328, Bangladesh’s score read 175/2 at the Stumps on Day 2 with Mahmudul and Najmul registering their individual half-centuries. The visitors are now trailing by 153 runs.

Currently, Mahmudul and Mominul Haque are standing unbeaten at the crease and keeping the game in the favour of Bangladesh.

A great day for Bangladesh!

After a clinical morning bowling performance, half-centuries from Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mahmudul Hasan Joy have brought Bangladesh back into the match.#NZvBAN | #WTC23 pic.twitter.com/oJGId4K83U

— ICC (@ICC) January 2, 2022

Coming to bat, Bangladesh got off to a steady start as opener Shadman Islam got caught and bowled by Neil Wagner and left the score at 43/1. Later, the duo of Mahmudul and Najmul played breakthrough knocks of 70* and 64 runs respectively and kept the scoreboard moving.

New Zealand finally got a sigh of relief when Wagner struck back again and dismissed Najmul when Bangladesh’s score read 147/2. After that, Mominul Haque joined Mahmudul and the duo took the score to 175/2 and ended the day on a good note for their side.

Earlier, beginning Day 2 from 258/5, Kiwis had a disappointing start as Rachin Ravindra, who joined Henry Nicholls, had to depart for just 4 runs. Nicholls was then joined by Kyle Jamieson.

Najmul Hossain Shanto, Post Day 2#BCB #BanvsNZ #Cricket pic.twitter.com/bmBXorT0aU

— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) January 2, 2022

The duo tried to anchor the innings for some time but Jamieson was caught out by Shadman Islam and Kiwis’ score read 297-7. This was not the end of the misery for BlackCaps as they suffered a double blow of losing back to back wickets of Tim Southee and Neil Wagner, which was then followed by Nicholls’ wicket.

Brief Score:

New Zealand 258/5 (Devon Conway 122, Henry Nicholls 75; Shoriful Islam 3/269)

Bangladesh 175/2 (Mahmudul Hasan Joy 70*, Najmul Hossain Shanto 64; Neil Wagner 2/27)