New Zealand left-arm pacer Neil Wagner credited Bangladesh batters for showing patience and show a fight replying to the home team’s first innings on day two of the ongoing Test at Mount Maunganui on Sunday.
Bangladesh on the day first restricted the Kiwis to 328, courtesy to the paceman Shoriful Islam, spinners in Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Mominul Haque, and then posted 175 runs losing two wickets in 67 overs.
In reply, young opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy, playing his second Test for Bangladesh, guided the innings with an unbeaten 70 off 211 balls while Najmul Hossain Shanto before falling to Wagner added 64 to the board.
The Bangladesh batters are applauded for being able to sustain the New Zealand attack on difficult conditions. Joy emerged as the only Bangladesh opener to face more than 200 deliveries in New Zealand in a Test and the first opener in the world since 2019.
“Full credit to the Bangladesh batsmen. They played really well. They showed a lot of patience. They showed a bit of fight. It is a tough graft out there. It is just a good days’ hard and tough Test cricket. I think we fought really hard, but couldn’t really string together enough to create pressure from both ends. Everyone tried really hard but it wasn’t to be our day. But it is Test cricket: we have an opportunity tomorrow to fight harder, and get early wickets,” said Wagner to the media on Sunday.
“The younger guys [Bangladesh batters] today [Sunday] played phenomenally. I thought they played patiently. They didn’t really give too many opportunities. They hung in there. They were prepared to dig in. They left the ball quite a lot. It made us ask more questions, and take wickets. It gave them the opportunity to score. I thought that they played really well. Full credit to them. I thought when the ball was there to be scored, they scored. They also left well and defended well,” the New Zealand blower added.
The 35-year-old Wagner, playing his 55th Test, emphasised Bangladesh has traditionally been tough opponents when in New Zealand and that the tourists have always played well despite the tough condition.
“Bangladesh have been pretty tough opponents whenever they have come here. They have always played well in our conditions. The likes of Shakib play a different brand of cricket. They come out quite aggressively, play a few more shots. It creates an opportunity for us to take wickets, as well. They are quality players and have been around for quite some time,” said Wagner.