Series ends 1-1 after Bangladesh miss out on rare opportunity

Bangladesh lost the rare opportunity to register their maiden Test series win against New Zealand after losing the second and final Test match by four wickets at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium Saturday.

The series finished level at 1-1 with Bangladesh having convincingly won the first game in Sylhet earlier this month.  

The Mirpur clash turned out to be a low-scoring affair, with the two sides combining to face just 1,069 balls, the seventh-lowest ever in a Test that saw at least 36 wickets fall.

Going in to bat on day four on the overnight score of 38 for two, Bangladesh had opener Zakir Hasan at the crease almost till the end.

The diminutive left-handed batter helped push the score to 128; in the process bagging his third half century in the format.

The situation had looked positive for the hosts before they lost their last eight wickets for the addition of just 73 runs on the board.

New Zealand initiated their first breakthrough when they dismissed Mominul Haque [10] to break a 33-run stand for the third wicket. 

This triggered the Bangladesh collapse which included giving away wickets to what looked like an aggressive approach, although captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto in the post-match press conference said the batters were only playing according to the need of the game.

Taijul Islam was only the third Bangladesh batter on day four to score in double figure, remaining not out on 14.

Zakir fell as the ninth Bangladesh wicket with 59 runs to his name.   

Left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel bagged six wickets in the innings, and eight wickets overall.

Defending the small target, Bangladesh tasted success with the ball early after left-arm paceman Shoriful Islam trapped Devon Conway in front for two as the ball kept low.

Soon Taijul dismissed Kane Williamson (11) once again in the series while Henry Nicholls (three) was out leg before wicket to Mehedi Hasan Miraz. 

Tom Latham (26) got caught at slip by Shanto off Miraz while Taijul induced a caught behind against Tom Blundell (two).

New Zealand soon lost their sixth wicket when Daryl Mitchell (19) gave a catch to Shanto at slip off Miraz.

However, that was it as far as Bangladesh are concerned as Glenn Phillips (40 not out) and Mitchell Santner (35 not out) finished the job for the Kiwis, stitching together an unbroken 70-run partnership for the seventh wicket. 

Phillips and Santner first added 21 off just 19 balls before the tea break. 

Phillips then started the third session with a couple of fours off Nayeem Hasan, before Santner survived an on-field lbw dismissal, overturning it with a review.

Santner and Phillips struck a six each soon after, reducing the target to 12 runs, before clubbing a four apiece in the 40th over to complete the win.

Left-arm spinner Taijul was named player of the series for his 15 wickets and Phillips the man of the match for his all-round performance. 

2ND TEST, DAY 4

Bangladesh 172 & 144 in 35 overs (Zakir 59, Patel 6/57) lost to New Zealand 180 & 139/6 in 39.4 overs (Phillips 40*, Miraz 3/52) by 4 wickets