Stats: Mahmudul Hasan Joy scored the most runs for Bangladesh batsmen of the day—86 from 166 balls, including 11 fours

On the opening day of the Sylhet Test, New Zealand’s unexpected hero with the ball was Glenn Phillips, who restricted Bangladesh to 310 for 9 while Taijul Islam and No. 11 Shoriful Islam batted out the final 3.1 overs, thus Phillips did not have a fifth wicket.

On the opening day of the Sylhet Test, New Zealand’s unexpected hero with the ball was Glenn Phillips, who restricted Bangladesh to 310 for 9. 

A middle-order batsman and occasional off-spinner Phillips ended the day with 4 for 53 as New Zealand engineered a batting slump that began at the end of the second session. This is Phillips’ second Test, and he’s never been handed a bowl before.

Bangladesh was 180 for 2 in the 53rd over, with Mominul Haque and Mahmudul Hasan Joy playing strong middle. Bangladesh lost momentum as soon as Phillips removed Mominul and Ish Sodhi removed Joy’s wicket. 

But Tim Southee, the captain of New Zealand, didn’t sit back and watch things happen while he rotated the three spinners, Ajaz Patel was the third but he often kept one quick bowler on.

Joy scored the most runs for Bangladesh batsmen of the day—86 from 166 balls, including 11 fours.

After a 39-run stand, Ajaz bowled left-hand opening batsman Zakir Hasan with a ball that looped back from well outside off stump, giving New Zealand their first breakthrough of the day.

Nurul Hasan, who was caught down the leg side for 29, was Phillips’ fourth wicket of the day before Nayeem Hasan edged Jamieson’s wide delivery to second slip.

For the day, Taijul Islam and No. 11 Shoriful Islam batted out the final 3.1 overs, thus Phillips did not have a fifth wicket.

Bangladesh 1st Innings

BATTING R B 4s 6s SR

Mahmudul Hasan Joy          c Mitchell b Sodhi

                                    86 166 11 0 51.80

Zakir Hasan                                          b Patel

                                   12 41 1 0 29.26

Najmul Hossain Shanto (c)   c Williamson b Phillips

                                   37 35 2 3 105.71

Mominul Haque                    c †Blundell b Phillips

                                   37 78 4 0 47.43

Mushfiqur Rahim                c Williamson b Patel

                                   12 22 1 0 54.54

Shahadat Hossain            c Nicholls b Phillips

                                  24 54 3 0 44.44

Mehidy Hasan Miraz      c Mitchell b Jamieson

                                  20 30 2 0 66.66

Nurul Hasan †                c †Blundell b Phillips

                                  29 28 5 0 103.57

Nayeem Hasan               c Latham b Jamieson

                                  16 27 3 0 59.25

Taijul Islam                   not out

                      8 21 1 0 38.09

Shoriful Islam               not out

                      13 8 3 0 162.50

BOWLING O M R W ECON WD NB

Tim Southee

                       14 2 43 0 3.07 1 0

Kyle Jamieson

                       17 5 52 2          3.05 0 0

Ajaz Patel

                       24 1 76 2          3.16 0 0

Ish Sodhi

                       14 1 71 1          5.07 0 0

Glenn Phillips                       16 1 53 4          3.31 0 0