NEW DELHI: Spinner Glenn Phillips delivered impressive figures of 4-53 as New Zealand limited Bangladesh to 310-9 before bad light curtailed play on the opening day of the first Test in Sylhet on Tuesday.
Chosen over Rachin Ravindra, Phillips played a pivotal role in taking crucial wickets, while opener Mahmudul Hasan‘s resilient knock of 86 off 166 balls provided Bangladesh with a solid foundation for a substantial total.
Opting to bat first, the hosts had moments of dominance against New Zealand but lost key wickets at crucial junctures. Kiwi bowlers Ajaz Patel (2-76) and Kyle Jamieson (2-52) contributed to the dismissals.
Bangladesh’s captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and former captain Mominul Haque each contributed 37 runs, forming partnerships of 53 and 88 runs with Mahmudul for the second and third wicket pairs, respectively, before their dismissals.
Phillips secured his maiden Test wicket by bowling out Najmul in the morning session, with Kane Williamson completing the catch. Ish Sodhi and Phillips took important wickets just before tea, disrupting Bangladesh’s progress.
Sodhi dismissed Mahmudul, ending his resilient innings, while Phillips forced Mominul to give a catch to wicketkeeper Tom Blundell.
Experienced Mushfiqur Rahim fell to Patel for 12, with Williamson taking his second catch. Jamieson accounted for Mehidy Hasan, and Phillips dismissed debutant Shahadat Hossain and Nurul Hasan to further swing momentum in New Zealand’s favor.
The off-spinner ended Nurul’s innings at 29, and the day concluded with Bangladesh at 310-9.
The remaining batsmen Taijul Islam (8 not out) and Shoriful Islam (13 not out) survived the day after Jamieson dismissed Nayeem Hasan, marking his second wicket of the day.
The two-match series marks the beginning of a new World Test Championship cycle for both the teams.
(With AFP inputs)