Bangladesh take slender lead at lunch

Bangladesh openers Mahmudul Hasan and Zakir Hasan negotiated the tricky 40-minute period before the lunch accumulating 19 runs off 10 overs as hosts took a lead of 12 runs against New Zealand at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

Earlier in the morning, Mominul Haque proved his ability of taking wickets against New Zealand as the occasional bowler picking up two wickets to wrap up their first innings during the first of the two-match Test series.

Overnight New Zealand pair Tim Southee and Kyle Jamieson, who resumed with a trail of 46 runs, batted stubbornly throughout the first hour and made sure their team got the vital first innings lead.

Just when it seemed the visitors were heading for a substantial lead in the turning track, Bangladesh resorted to Mominul, who got a home Test wicket after nine years yesterday, and he straightaway broke the 52-run stand.

The first ball of Mominul’s new spell and also the first ball after the drinks break saw Jamieson beaten and adjudged leg before for 23. Aijaz Patel took a single three balls later and when Southee, who made 35, tried to whack the fifth ball he was clean bowled.

New Zealand took a seven-run lead as Mominul ended with his best figure of 3-4.

As a matter of fact, Mominul now has seven wickets out of 10 against the kiwis. The only other innings he got Test wickets was against South Africa in 2017 when he grabbed 3-27 at Potchefstroom.