Bangladesh takes lead over NZ after Mominul, Liton fifties

Cricketers Mominul Haque and Liton Das - Photo UNB

Dhaka, Dec 3 — In the first Test of the two-match series against New Zealand, both Mominul Haque and Liton Das hit a fifty each as Bangladesh secured a first-innings lead which was rising at the last session of day three at Mount Maunganui. 

Mominul and Liton added 158 runs in the fifth wicket stand. The stand was broken when Mominul fell for 88— short of 12 runs of his second Test century abroad.

Bangladesh ended day two at 175 for two with Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Mominul remaining unbeaten for 70 and eight respectively. 

Joy fell for 78 after adding only eight to his overnight total while Mominul remained firm at the other end of the wicket. 

It was Joy’s maiden fifty in Test cricket. Before this match, he played only one Test. The 21-year-old batsman was one of the best in the world during his U-19 cricketing days. He had a century in the last U-19 World Cup that Bangladesh won beating India in the final. 

Mushfiqur Rahim failed to impress as he fell for 12 off 53 balls. 

In the next wicket stand, Liton joined Mominul and made New Zealand bowlers toil. Mominul registered his 15th fifty in Test, and right after that, Liton recorded his 11th fifty in the format. 

After Mominul, Trent Boult also removed Liton for 86. One ball earlier of his dismissal, Liton survived a caught-behind appeal from New Zealand, but eventually, he fell prey to the same kind of dismissal. 

At the end of 145 overs, Bangladesh were batting at 370 for six in reply to New Zealand’s first innings of 328. Bangladesh already secured a lead of 42 runs with four wickets in hand. - UNB