Tag: Najmul Hossain Shanto

SYLHET: Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto hit his third Test century in the last four innings to put his side on course for a strong total in the second innings of the first Test against New Zealand.

The hosts reached 212-3 at stumps on the third day, leading New Zealand by 205 runs, with Najmul unbeaten on 104.

Former captain Mushfiqur Rahim made an unbeaten 43 and put on 96 runs in the unbroken fourth-wicket stand with Najmul.

Najmul, who scored a century in both innings of Bangladesh’s previous Test against Afghanistan in June, also shared 90 runs with Mominul Haque for the third wicket.

The left-hander has now become the first Bangladeshi cricketer to score a hundred on his debut as Test captain.

He took his hundred, his fourth in Tests, with a single off Ajaz Patel in 191 balls before signing off the day in style with a boundary in the last ball.

The 25-year-old has struck 10 fours so far in his innings.

He was however involved in two runouts on the day, with the last being Mominul, who made 40.

Najmul and Mominul helped Bangladesh recover from 26-2 after New Zealand made 317 in their first innings to take a slender seven-run lead.

Mominul praised Najmul for his “outstanding” batting.

“He knows very well about his game and has a clear mind,” Mominul said.

Patel, the only New Zealand bowler with some success on the day, trapped opener Zakir Hasan leg-before for 17.

Tim Southee directed a straight drive by Najmul onto the stumps at the non-striking end to run out Mahmudul Hasan for eight next over.

Mominul, who joined Najmul in the rescue act, was also the hero for Bangladesh with the ball, having taken the last two New Zealand wickets in the morning.

The tourists, replying to Bangladesh’s first-innings 310, resumed on 266-8, still 44 runs behind.

Southee and Kyle Jamieson frustrated Bangladesh for more than an hour to share 52 runs for the ninth wicket until left-arm spinner Mominul removed them both in the same over.

Mominul trapped Jamieson leg-before for 23 to leave New Zealand 316-9 and then bowled Southee four balls later for 35 to finish with career-best figures of 3-4.

“We definitely didn’t think it was going to be easy to rock up in the second innings and knock them over,” Jamieson said.

“We’ve still got some work to do tomorrow and try and chip out a few more.”

Southee hit three boundaries in his 62-ball stay.

The two-match series is the beginning of a new cycle in the World Test Championship for both teams.

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DHAKA: Najmul Hossain struck his third Test century as Bangladesh dominated a hapless Afghanistan to score 362-5 on the first day of the one-off Test in Dhaka on Wednesday.

Najmul Hossain Shanto made 146 off 175 balls and set up an imposing total in his 212-run second-wicket partnership with Mahmudul Hasan, who hit 76 to make his third Test fifty.

Mushfiqur Rahim was not out on 41 alongside Mehidy Hasan Miraz on 43 when bad light forced stumps with 11 overs left on the opening day.

Afghanistan, who are without talismanic all-rounder Rashid Khan, were on the back foot for most of the day after electing to bowl first on a rare green-top wicket at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

Debutant medium pacer Nijat Masood was the most successful Afghan bowler with 2-67, removing Zakir Hasan for one on his very first Test delivery in the second over.

The sharp catch from wicketkeeper Afsar Zazai had to be confirmed by the television umpire after an initial decision of not out.

But Najmul and Mahmudul immediately forged a strong partnership to take control of the proceedings and deny the visitors further momentum.

Najmul hit back-to-back fours off Yamin Ahmadzai in the first over he came to bat and brought up his fifty off 58 balls with a boundary off leg-spinner Zahir.

Occasional spinner Rahmat Shah broke their partnership when Mahumdul attempted a cut shot only to edge a catch to Ibrahim Zadran at slip.

Mahmudul hit nine boundaries in his sedate 137-ball innings.

Afghanistan enjoyed a brief spell of success in the post-tea session when Nijat dismissed Mominul Haque, caught behind down the leg side, for 15.

Najmul fell soon after, heaving a catch to Nasir Jamal at deep midwicket off left-arm spinner Amir Hamza in his attempt for his third six in the innings.

The 24-year-old left-hander smashed 23 fours in his sizzling innings.

Stand-in captain Liton Das followed him quickly, poking Zahir to Ibrahim at slip after making nine runs.

But Mushfiqur and Mehidy halted further collapse and slowly reestablished Bangladesh’s authority with their unbroken 72-run sixth wicket stand.

Afghanistan won the only other Test between the two teams when they beat the home side by 224 runs at Chittagong in 2019.

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