Bangladesh VS New Zealand Test Series 
1st Test Played at Bay Oval Mount Maunganui, January 1-5, 2021
Brief Scorecard at Stumps Day-4.

New Zealand 328 All Out (Devon Conway 122, Henry Nicholls 75 Will Young 52, Henry Nicholls 32*, Ross Taylor 31, Shoriful Islam 3/69, Mehedy Miraj 3/86 Mominul Haq 2/6, Ebadat Hossain 1/75) 
Bangladesh: 1st Innings 458 All Out in 176.2 Overs (Mominul Haq 88, Liton K Das 86, Mahmud Hasan Joy 78, Nazmul Hossain Shanto 64, Mehedi Hasan Miraj 47, Yasir Ali 26, Trent Boult 4/85, Neil Wagner 3/101, Tim Southee 2/114) 
New Zealand 2nd Innings 147/5 (Will Young 69, Ross Taylor 37*, Ebadat Hossain 4/39, Taskin Ahmed 1/22) 
New Zealand Lead by 17 runs with 5 wickets at hand 

Ebadat bowling fast, bowling at right corridor and reversing had a magic spell. His 4/39 has put Bangladesh on the threshold of making a history. 

Bangladesh never won any test against New Zealand, not even any match of any format but lost all. At stumps on day four one of the living legend of New Zealand cricket Ross Taylor in his twilight stand in between. Finishing at 147/5 New Zealand leads by only 17 runs with the pair at the wicket and tail for their rescue. 

Cricket is a strange game. From almost a similar situation Pakistan great Inzimamul Haq won the match against Bangladesh at Lyallpur. Bangladesh cannot lose from here. I am not sure without miracle happening how New Zealand can even escape defeat. Circumstances alter cases. The wicket has developed uneven bounce.   In all probabilities brave boys of Bangladesh would possibly create a new milestone for their cricket on January 5, 2022.
 
The day four started with Bangladesh resuming their overnight score of 401/6. The plan was batting as long as possible and extends the lead further from 73. Miraj and Yasir did their best. But desperate Kiwi pacers also put in their best. Finally, Southee, Boult and Jamieson could make Bangladesh all out for 458 shortly before lunch. Miraj scored useful 47 and Yasir also contributed 26, Boult (4/85), Wagner 3/101 and Southee 2/114) were overstressed. Bangladesh innings spread over three days lasted for 176.2 Overs. Bangladesh also gained 130 runs 1st Innings lead.

Black caps wobbled a bit in their second innings again losing captain Latham cheaply this time clean bowled by Taskin. Alarm bell rang for the home side when first innings centurion Conway also fell brilliantly caught by Shadman off the bowling of Ebadat. All the Bangladesh bowlers bowled with renewed energy. Ebadat, Taskin and Shoriful continuously teased. Miraj bowled tight. However, Bangladesh dropped Taylor at a crucial stage. Young and Taylor was carrying out rescuing mission. Black caps wiped out the deficit and were looking safe for the day. Suddenly Ebadat appeared like a man on mission. Bowling fast and accurate and reversing he grabbed three wickets in quick succession. First Young was gone and then Nicholls and Blundell were sent back in no time. New Zealand lost 3 quick wickets at 136. At stumps they were 147/5 effectively 17/5. Taylor playing his penultimate test survived scoring 37 and with him was young Rachin Ravindra. History is beckoning Bangladesh. 

Cannot help quoting Cricinfo summary of days play: Bangladesh walk off the victors for the third day in a row. It's safe to say now - Bangladesh are poised for a win and it will be up to New Zealand to bat out of their skins for a long, long time tomorrow to change that. Keep up the discipline the bowling has shown all game, and a historic day beckons for Bangladesh. At one point, it seemed like they were letting the moment slip - poor use of DRS, poor fielding, and a partnership building. But Ebadot pulled out what will go down as one of the most iconic spells in Bangladesh cricket if they manage to win from here. Three wickets for zero runs once New Zealand had erased the deficit. The match suddenly looks very, very different because of it.

What a brilliant achievement would it be. Before the series took off none even this writer gave Bangladesh any chance against world champions. But brilliant wonderful cricket over four days they have deservedly reached the touching distance of an epic achievement. If only Bangladesh could better use the DRS they could be in more advantageous position. 

BDST: 1257 HRS, JAN 04, 2021
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