New Zealand stands out as the most unfortunate cricket team on the international stage. Despite delivering stellar performances to reach semi-finals or finals, they consistently fall short of clinching the title. Notably, the trio of Kane Williamson, Southee, and the Kiwi team, despite making it to the finals in three consecutive World Cups, have been unable to secure the coveted trophy. This trend persisted after the 2015 and 2019 ODI World Cups when the Kiwis came agonizingly close in the 2021 T20 World Cup, only to be thwarted again.
The New Zealand cricket team has arrived in Dhaka for a two-Test series against Bangladesh. Originally scheduled to travel to Sylhet on Wednesday morning, there has been a change in the travel plans. Both teams will now reach Sylhet at night after a day of rest, as confirmed by BCB media manager Rabid Imam.
In the year 2018, Bangladesh played its only Test match at the Sylhet International Stadium. After a five-year gap, the anticipation for the second Test at the Sylhet ground is building, with New Zealand as Bangladesh's opponent in this upcoming match.
In what promises to be a riveting clash, the first Test of the two-match series is set to kick off on Tuesday at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, marking the commencement of Bangladesh's Test cricket season and the initiation of the third cycle of the ICC World Test Championship. Bangladesh, having finished at the bottom in the previous two cycles, faces the formidable challenge of turning the tide against a strong New Zealand side.
Shahadat Hossain Dipu, who faced the loss of his father at the tender age of 9, has now found a place in the Test team.
However, Bangladesh concluded the first day of the match with a sense of disappointment. The day held immense potential for Bangladesh, but the team fell short of capitalizing on it, losing several wickets. Despite a promising start with the notable contributions of Muminul Haque and Mahmudul Hasan Joy, the team struggled to maintain momentum after their dismissals.
Despite the disappointment of falling short of a century, Mahmudul Hasan Joy expressed satisfaction in contributing to the team's total of 300 passes. Addressing the media after Tuesday's play, Joy acknowledged the rarity of such opportunities and emphasized the importance of his role as an opener. Although he missed the chance for a big innings, he highlighted the team's overall strong position with a scoreboard showing 300 runs.
Bangladesh missed a golden opportunity to seize control of the Sylhet Test as the hosts found themselves in a challenging position at the end of the second day against New Zealand. Despite the visitors accumulating 266 runs for the loss of 8 wickets, Bangladesh let the match slip away due to dropped catches and a failure to utilize the Decision Review System (DRS)
Facing a formidable New Zealand team in the Test series, Bangladesh, weakened by the absence of key players like Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das, Taskin Ahmed, and Ebadat, took the field under the leadership of their new captain, Shant. The hero of the Kiwis' downfall was left-arm spinner Taijul Islam, as Bangladesh secured a memorable victory, defeating New Zealand by 150 runs with his exceptional bowling performance.
Bangladesh secured a remarkable victory against one of the top Test cricket teams, the reigning champions of the inaugural Test Championship. Despite being at the bottom in the last two seasons, Bangladesh triumphed by 150 runs against New Zealand in the Sylhet Test. Kiwi captain Tim Southee, expressing regret over the defeat, highlighted the enchanting beauty of Sylhet, acknowledging the tour's memorability irrespective of the results.
