Glenn Phillips stars with his all-round performance as Blackcaps wins a thriller and wins the series! What an exceptional Test match this has been! We saw absolutely everything and even rain and bad light could not stop this match from getting a result. This game went back and forth as both teams genuinely had a chance of getting the win at different points, but it was the all-round show from Glenn Phillips that proved to be the difference as the Kiwis avenged their defeat in the first Test.
Bangladesh once again decided to bat first after winning the toss as this was another rank-turner of a wicket. Their openers once again failed to make any impact as they were already four down in the first session. It was the partnership between Mushfiqur Rahim and Shahadat Hossain that steadied things for them. However, the talking point in the second session was the dismissal of Rahim as he handled the ball deliberately and became the first Bangladeshi batter to be out ‘obstructing the field’.
After that, some handy contributions from Mehidy Hasan and Nurul Hasan took them to a total of 172 runs. Tim Southee bowled well in the overcast conditions and gave away no runs in his 5.2 overs and picked up a wicket but it was the trip of Ajaz Patel, Mitchell Santner, and Glenn Phillips did the rest of the job quite effectively with the Phillips taking three wickets on his birthday.
New Zealand, on the other hand, also struggled in their first innings as even after a breezy start, they lost half their side before Stumps on Day 1 which saw 15 wickets fall in total. Taijul Islam and Mehidy Hasan spun a web around them while Shahadat Hossain took a stunner to dismiss the main man, Kane Williamson. We did not get any action on Day 2 due to consistent rain which was a bit of a disappointment. However, on Day 3 we saw Glenn Phillips taking an attacking approach and putting pressure on the bowlers by hitting boundaries. He played a fantastic knock of 83 runs missing out on a hundred while Tim Southee and Kyle Jamieson helped them to take a first innings lead of 8 runs.
Just like the Kiwis, it was the spin trio of Taijul, Mehidy, and Nayeem Hasan who shared eight wickets while Shoriful Islam also bowled well and picked up a couple. After that, we could not get much action but the Kiwis were able to pick up two wickets with the crucial one being of Najmul Hossain Shanto who gave in to a hostile spell from Southee. Then bad light stopped play just like in Day 1 and the hosts ended with a 30-run lead going into Day 4. In the end, New Zealand kept their calm, and with the inspired selection of Mitchell Santner and Phillips’ brilliance shared the spoils in this series.
Bangladeshi batters were all over the place from the start of Day 4 but a fighting half-century from opener Zakir Hasan and important runs from Shoriful Islam and Taijul Islam in the end helped them set a target of 137 runs. Ajaz Patel shone with a six-wicket haul for the Kiwis. While chasing, New Zealand’s top order once again had no answers to the spin prowess of Bangladesh and they were in a spot of trouble with 51/5 on the scoreboard. However, Tom Latham played a good knock before getting out while Daryl Mitchell also added some important runs. The Kiwis needed 47 runs with four wickets in hand after Tea and it was that man, Glenn Phillips, who impressed with the bat after getting an early life as he was dropped by Najmul Hossain Shanto. He along with Mitchell Santner dodged a few close calls and with a partnership of 70 runs took them over the line.
Najmul Hossain Shanto, the captain of Bangladesh says that their bowlers did an awesome job, all four of them. Adds that he is proud of how everyone helped in the field. Tells that in the first match, they played well, but in the latest one, missed some chances and will look to learn from it. Says that now they are getting ready for the ODI series in New Zealand, and hopes everyone plays great there too. He emphasized the importance of teamwork and staying positive for the upcoming challenges.
Glenn Phillips stars with All-Round Performance
Glenn Phillips is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his stellar all-around performance. He says that at the end of the day, runs always mattered on such a track and thankfully they got more than the opponents here. Adds that Tim Southee created pressure early on and then the spinners cleared up the batting unit of the opponents restricting them to a low total that worked in their favor. Mentions that he just sticks to his plans and tries to put the bowler under pressure and sometimes it clicks and at times it doesn’t, but the approach will remain the same. Also credits Santner for his batting heroics at the end.
Tim Southee, the victorious skipper of New Zealand says it was a bit tough, but he’s happy they ended up winning. Adds that the team trusted their skills, and on this pitch, you can play your way. Credits Bangladesh as well. Tells that it was just a matter of time before wickets fell. Says it’s not easy when people expect quick results, Ajaz Patel did great with six wickets, and winning on a pitch like this feels really good.
That is it from this enthralling Test match and this series as well where Bangladesh and New Zealand share the spoils. The trophy has been handed to both captains, Tim Southee and Najmul Hossain Shanto who join their teams and both sides pose together for the pictures. These two sides now travel to New Zealand to meet again in a three-match ODI series. The first game will be played on 17th December, Sunday starting at (10 pm GMT, Previous Day).