Bangladesh Test captain Mominul Haque registered his third win leading the team and he couldn’t have asked for a better way. Bangladesh on Wednesday registered history defeating world Test champions New Zealand by eight wickets at Mount Maunganui in the first of the two-match Test series.
Right-arm pacer Ebadot Hossain was the key to set Bangladesh’s success with his career best performance in the format. Ebadot Hossain partnered with another right-arm pacer Taskin Ahmed emerged in the first session of the final day reducing the Kiwis from overnight score of 147 for five to 169 and set Bangladesh 40 runs to chase to the historical win.
Ebadot finished with 6 for 46 and emerged as the first Bangladesh bowler to bag five wickets in the format since 2013 while Taskin ended with three under his belt in the innings as the home team were able to add just 15 runs to the board losing the last five wickets.
Mominul speaking at the post match press conference echoed that the historic win will lift Bangladesh to the much-sought next level in the format and credited the win to the bowling attack.
“We [Bangladesh] have not been playing well in this format recently. So it had become important for us to put our hands up and take ourselves to the next level. It was important for us to win. However, we now want to forget this [game] and look forward to the next match of the series at Christchurch,” said Bangladesh top order batter Mominul after the match.
“We won the match because of the bowlers. They have put the opposition batters under pressure in both the innings. They have done the hard work, bowled in the right areas maintained a good process as well.
“Ebadot was unbelievable, he has been outstanding in both the innings and the best in his career so far,” the Bangladesh Test captain added.
Bangladesh with the win found its first victory in New Zealand against New Zealand in any format of cricket and the first Test win in 16 attempts. The victory is Bangladesh’s first away from home against a top five ranked opposition while only the sixth win away from home in 61 games.
“I would like to thank almighty Allah first of all. Definitely it was a team work. Everyone was keen to win this game. everyone had put their best out in the field even if it was a substitute. There has been good support in every department – batting, bowling and fielding,” said Mominul.
Bangladesh in the second and the final Test of the series will face New Zealand at Christchurch starting January 9.