Bangladesh was in for an unpleasant awakening during the opening session of the second Test against New Zealand in Dhaka, having elected to bowl. Early in the innings, the pitch demonstrated indications of aiding the spinners by providing substantial purchase through spin and rebound, thereby complicating matters for the batsmen. Mitchell Santner, who had been substituted for Ish Sodhi in this Test for New Zealand, was the first to score, luring Zakir Hasan into a deceptive stroke and capturing him at midon.
This occurred because both Ajaz Patel and Santner, both left-arm spinners, began the match on a high note and stringed together a few close overs. However, that wicket prompted several more to fall in rapid succession. Mahmudul Hasan was caught by Ajaz off an inside edge at short leg first, and Mominul Haque under-edged a cut to the wicket-keeper in his subsequent over.
Najmul Hossain Shanto, the captain, reverse-swept Santner for a boundary as part of a brief counterattack, but was dismissed while attempting an encore. Santner, who was struck on the pad after missing, petitioned for and ultimately obtained an LBW review, which at one-point reduced Bangladesh to 47/4.
Shahat Hossain and Mushfiqur Rahim were the driving forces behind the resistance, which maintained an unbeaten tally until the lunch break.
Brief Scores: Bangladesh 80/4 (Mitchell Santner 2-24, Ajaz Patel 2-32) vs New Zealand
