Bangladesh shocked the cricket universe in defeating current world Test champions New Zealand by eight wickets in the Bay of Plenty.
The Black Caps are notoriously difficult to beat in home conditions but Bangladesh showed no fear against New Zealand’s bowling lineup.
There was one photo that went viral earlier in the Test which summed up the David vs Goliath battle when Bangladesh captain Mominul Haque was standing alongside Kiwi quick Kyle Jamieson.
Jamieson is a good 40cm taller than Haque but Haque’s fighting spirit inspired his side with a gritty 88 in the first innings. He may not be the best reviewer in world cricket after he comically wasted three reviews inside 37 overs on Day 4 but he more than made up for it with his tactics.
(Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
At one stage New Zealand threatened to set Bangladesh a tough final innings chase when the side was 2 for 136 with a slight lead but Bangladesh held their nerve and kept patient when so often they’d crumble in the past.
They bowled New Zealand out for 169 with a stunning collapse from the home side.
The best part about the victory was the players who contributed the most. It wasn’t just experience but youth that led the way.
In just his second Test match, 21-year-old Mahmudul Joy looked as though he’d been playing Test cricket for 20 years.
His patient 78 came off 228 balls and he slowly wore down New Zealand’s bowlers who became noticeably frustrated. A rare sight for the ‘nice guys’ of cricket.
23-year-old Najmul Hossain Shanto also chipped in with the bat at no.3. England could do worse than study the way Bangladesh batted for 176 overs when they debrief from their horror Ashes campaign against Australia.
As well as the youth, it was a story of redemption.
Before the Test, pace bowler Edabot Hossain had taken 11 wickets in 10 Tests at an average of 81.54. When New Zealand looked like taking charge in the third innings he defied his career average to snag 6 for 46 in 21 overs including the massive wicket of Ross Taylor. As a result, he became the first Bangladeshi seamer to take a five-wicket haul since 2013.
Not surprisingly the result came as a massive surprise with Bangladesh ranked no.9 in the world compared to New Zealand’s current no.2 ranking after they recently slipped below India.
It was also a time of reflection.
Republican
Guest
Despite this hick up NZ will prove to be the thorn in Australia's side - humbling us again this season I believe. They always save their best v us.
Republican
Guest
Music to my ears. Congrats Bangladesh and lets hope the form continues v the smugness of NZ.
Micko
Roar Rookie
And I've got no issue with docking points for slow over rates as long as it's a consistent punishment. :thumbup: NZ didn't win enough games, that's literally the point! The 1-2 series loss to India was enough to see Australia reach the Final, where they would've faced India. The docked points was what got NZ into the Final.
Micko
Roar Rookie
NZ's luck in that final? You mean Santner not playing at the final ball of the innings, or Boult not having spatial awareness? Or something else?
Bobbo7
Guest
Slow over rates are also a thing and docking points is fair enough as it can be used to influence results. NZ won enough games and thoroughly deserved to win the final. All teams have good luck and bad luck at times. How was NZ's luck in the 2019 WC final?
Tigerbill44
Roar Guru
during the afternoon session of the 4th day. I was discussing the match with my colleagues in the teacher's lounge. We were expecting a draw. Then I went to the library and was surprised to see the Kiwis five wickets down . as the 4th day ended, I still felt a bit apprehensive. I was expecting Taylor to dig in and start a fightback. a target of 100+ would be tricky against this pace attack, I said to myself. Final day started at 4 am here in Dhaka. I woke up around 6:20 and was looking to get the lunch score. Was surprised to find out that it was all over.
Micko
Roar Rookie
:silly:
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Lets face it. Im extremely fortunate you are Australian and have nothing to do with NZ cricket. A know-it-all who doesnt even know what a "THRASHING" is. India THRASHED your team Micko...Thrashed!!!
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Thrashed micko....Thrashed by India. WOW!!
Micko
Roar Rookie
I’m quoting the kiwis, who kept referring to him as an “all-rounder”. I’m mocking Santner, and the kiwi commentators Jacko. Santner is NO test spinner and never will be! I don’t think Ravindra is much chop either. Hopefully they’ve realised that now. I think the one genuine all round prospect NZ has is Darryl Mitchell, who looks a class act. And hopefully they select Patel moving forward, and let the bloke settle in to test cricket. He clearly has the talent! :thumbup:
Jacko
Roar Rookie
So because YOU dont think he is a spinner he's not a spinner? The world cricket sites list him as a spinner. You are WRONG again Micko... Wrong...
Micko
Roar Rookie
:stoked: You just prove my point Jacko. A "thrashing" was Australia's 3-0 humiliation of NZ in 2019/20, where NZ were just not remotely competitive at all! :happy:
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Oh of course...You "genuinely" know everything apparently. A total thrashing when India were not expected to win one match and Aus bowled them out for 30 odd in test one. Yet they showed so much fortitude and ability that with 6 top players out they thrashed Aus IN AUS...Thrashed Micko... Thrashed LOL.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Haha Yeah its flawed because Aus failed. Didnt beat India at home. NZ did LOL.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
that's just really pathetic. you have issues, get help.
Micko
Roar Rookie
And the dopey kiwi selectors made ANOTHER blunder when not selecting him to make his test debut at the SCG a couple of years ago. :thumbdown:
Micko
Roar Rookie
You literally don't even know what the word "thrashing" means Jacko. :silly: That was NOT a thrashing by any stretch of the imagination. South Africa and England are the only nations that have genuinely thrashed Australia at home in the last 30 years!
Micko
Roar Rookie
30 years?! Hardly! Less than 20. And they had a freakish assembly line of high quality fast bowlers never before experienced. It would be pretty rare that Australia could deploy a four man pace attack, and not even bother with a specialist spinner. NZ could've done in the last few years, but insisted on selecting "all rounder" Mitch Santner. :sick: :thumbdown:
Micko
Roar Rookie
Come off it Jacko, I was genuinely happy for NZ to win the inaugural TC, and even made congratulatory comments on this site!
Micko
Roar Rookie
NO JACKO, PAY ATTENTION!!! ALL series totalled 120 points on offer in the original points format of the ICC test championship, divided up between the tests played. So that same system hypothetically in the series vs India (a FOUR TEST SERIES!) meant a win equalled 30 points, and a draw would've equalled 15 points. So Australia would've claimed 45 points, and India 75 points from that series IF the original points system was retained. An international drama meant tests and series were being cancelled in 2020, one of which was Australia's test tour to SA ( for 3 tests I think?), and thus the ICC revised the points format and also looked at a percentage style format: average points accrued per test! This new percentage style format of average points accrued per test would've STILL seen Australia make the Final ahead of NZ despite losing to India at The Gabba, and thus losing that series 1-2. Australia being docked points for slow over rates from the 2nd test, on top of losing the series to India, was the tipping point which meant NZ snuck in marginally ahead in the revised system where they looked at average points accrued per test played. Once again Jacko I emphasise the key point your stubborn brain is struggling with: losing the Gabba Test to India, and losing the series 1-2 was NOT the deciding factor in the end. The ICC's decision to dock Australia TC points for slow over rates (rather than the usual fines dished out or captain suspension) meant Australia's average of points accrued per test was NOW below NZ's, and with the cancellation of the SA tour (Australia's last designated opponent in the ICC TC for the first iteration of this new tournament) that meant Australia lost it's LAST chance to improve it's points/percentage tally, and move above NZ on the table.