NEW DELHI: Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam showcased a stunning bowling performance, claiming a match haul of 10 wickets, to lead Bangladesh to a commanding 150-run victory against New Zealand in the opening Test in Sylhet on Saturday.
Facing a target of 332 on a turning track, New Zealand entered the final day at 113/7, navigating a challenging situation against Bangladesh's spin-heavy attack on a dry and turning pitch. Despite a valiant fifty from overnight batter Daryl Mitchell (58) and a brief resistance from skipper Tim Southee (34), Bangladesh's spinners proved too much for the visitors.
Taijul Islam, with figures of 6-75 in the second innings, played a pivotal role in Bangladesh's triumph and deservedly earned the player-of-the-match award.
In the absence of several frontline players, including regular captain Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh delivered a memorable win against a full-strength New Zealand side. Stand-in skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto expressed satisfaction with the team's performance but emphasised that the job is only "half done."
"Bowling fourth on a turning track in the sub-continent counts among the game's greatest challenges, and New Zealand's frontline batters struggled against the trial by spin," commented Shanto after Bangladesh's historic victory, marking their first Test win on home soil against New Zealand.
Despite the success, Shanto acknowledged that there is still work to be done, maintaining focus on the upcoming challenges. The second Test of the series is set to begin in Mirpur on Wednesday, offering both teams an opportunity to regroup and strategize for the next battle.
(With inputs from Reuters)
