Who would have thought it!
Bangladesh claimed a stunning eight-wicket victory early on day five at the Bay Oval today, securing only their sixth win in 61 overseas Test Matches.
New Zealand started day five on 147-5, leading by only 17. But they lost five wickets for 22 to surrender any hope of a fightback and set a target of only 40.
Seamer Ebadot Hossain claimed 6-46 in the second innings, adding to a solitary strike in the first, and scooped the Player of the Match award as a result. The 27-year-old’s career best figures came in only his 11th Test.
A player whose sporting career started as a volleyball player for the Bangladesh AirForce then gave a memorable post match interview.
Adding to this being only Bangladesh’s sixth overseas win in 61 Tests, it was their first win home or away since 2018 and New Zealand’s first home defeat since 2017.
Of course, the Kiwis can no longer win the series, though the consolation is that this series is not part of the new cycle of World Test Championship fixtures.
The second Test begins in Christchurch on Saturday evening UK time (10pm). As you would expect, New Zealand are strong favourites to win the game, but can Bangladesh perform more heroics and win the series?
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