The inaugural World Test Championship winners New Zealand have been playing against Bangladesh in Mount Maunganui where they failed to take wickets on day 3 of the 1st Test. After resuming the day at 175/2, the Bangladesh team lost the wicket of Mahmudul Hasan Joy very early in the day as well. Meanwhile, Neil Wagner made headlines with his behaviour.
Bangladesh captain Mominul Haque and Mushfiqur Rahim steadied the ship. They were playing at 192/4 when left-arm pacer Neil Wagner removed Mominul as his shot went straight to the hands of Tom Blundell when the batter was batting on 9 off 57 balls. However, after checking several replays, it was concluded that Wagner had overstepped and Haque survived the dismissal as well as the umpire signalled it as a no-ball.
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Meanwhile, frustrated with the decision, Neil Wagner was furious and hurled abuses as well. His voice was caught in the stump mic where he was seen using abusive language too.
“That’s fucken bullshit” @TheACCnz pic.twitter.com/Zstd5IhF9w
— Joe Andrews (@Joe_Ludeman) January 2, 2022
However, Bangladesh were struggling with 209/4 before Mominul Haque and wicket-keeper batter Liton Das stepped up and added 158 runs as well. Mominul Haque scored 88 runs whereas Liton scored 86 runs but missed out on well a deserved century.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh team director Khaled Mahmud said that if they can take at least 150 runs. “Tomorrow morning is very important. We have four wickets. There is Miraj and Yasir and we have a 73-runs lead. If we can get another 70 runs lead then it will be close to 150 runs lead and at that point we will be in good position,” Mahmud told reporters after the game.
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“We want to survive and do well. Even if we cannot win, we want to draw in the Test match,” he said. “Still there is 180 overs left and it will be difficult to score runs if we can bowl well,” he further added. “I always speak with them [players] separately and try to inspire them. I just told them that we have lost a match despite declaring at 595 but we cannot always lose. One group must stand up, and why not this group.”
“We need to follow the right process and more importantly play with courage and freedom. There is no ghost here. We had the confidence that we can do it but also had the fear considering this is a young team. Shadman, Joy, Shanto, Yasir and Liton all of them are not very experienced but have the potential to do well here. They worked hard and it helped them,” he added.
