Ross Taylor finished his Test career by scalping a wicket as his side won by an inning and 117 runs. Don't be fooled with the scoreline though. Bangladesh did lose the second match by a heavy margin but they thumped the Kiwis in the 1st Test and bagged 12 pivotal points.
Prior to the series, Bangladesh arrived in New Zealand with a raft of strenuous denounce from their fans as they had a barren run in the T20 World Cup and a poor series against Pakistan. They even lost a Test match against Pakistan within 3 days in this period. So, it was palpable that they'll be thrashed this time too in New Zealand as their past record said so.
Before the New Year Test, Bangladesh were aggravating 32-0 across formats in New Zealand and had always been hapless in New Zealand.
Bangladesh fielded three designated fast bowlers with a sole spin bowler in Miraz. Barring Taskin both Ebadot and Shoriful hadn't looked promising in Test format up till now. Ebadat had a bradmanesque average not with the bat, but with the red cherry. Before this series, he had an average of over 95 with the ball.
New Zealand were splendid after the first day, skipper Mominul's decision to bowl first on a not so green deck went futile as New Zealand's top order dominated the entire day 1.
With Kane out of squad, New Zealand looked pretty average in terms of their middle order and suffered a mini collapse. Bangladesh didn't take long to trim the Kiwi tail and restricted New Zealand under 350.
A score of 328 on the board still seemed more than adequate for New Zealand and it was unimaginable that Bangladesh will bat out more than 150 overs in New Zealand with the absence of their big names like Tamim and Shakib against the likes of Boult, Southee, Jamieson and Wagner. But that's what was meant to happen. Bangladesh batted, and batted and totally out batted the hosts. Bangladesh scored 458 runs by consuming 1058 deliveries.
Hasan Joy playing only his second Test showed determination, grittiness and ensconced his appearance to the international arena. He devoured 228 deliveries to score a sublime 78. Bangladesh's underperforming top order wagged as Joy and Shanto combined a record breaking 104 runs partnership, which is Bangladesh's highest second wicket partnership in the New Zealand.
When both of them departed. Liton and skipper Mominul steered the truck. Mominul fell short by 12 runs off a splendid hundred and the latter too got himself out before reaching the three-figure mark.
New Zealand didn't look threatening anymore owing to an inspired Bangladesh batting lineup. With the help of lower order, Bangladesh got the upper hand and got a vital 130 runs lead.
It was then that Ebadot stole the show as he rocked the Kiwi batting lineup with his raw pace and reverse swing and New Zealand were left reeling at 136-5 at the end of day four.
Still there were some hopes left for New Zealand, some hope to get away from Bangladesh. Bangladesh's eternal habit to bottle gave hope to New Zealand to escape with their old cliche Ross Taylor still standing at the middle. All of it had boiled down to an entertaining final day's play.
Ebadot started exactly where he left off overnight, ripping through the Taylor's stumps and that was surely the decisive scalp. New Zealand might have started to feel the first debacle at home after 17 Tests at this moment, did they? Or were they hoping for some miracle as Bangladesh have been accustomed to lose at the climax. But Bangladesh were substantially professional this time around. They tattered the tail comfortably and New Zealand could only manage a paltry 41 runs lead.
When Mushfiqur hit the winning runs and ascended the cliff it was one mist morning in Bangladesh, not an ideal time to wake up and commence your day in the winter but surely, the entire Bangladesh had awoken to witness the historic moment.
All the mundane things might have looked valueless to Bangladeshi fans for this astounding win, Sun was risen in the foggy weather, all the melancholy evaporated, whilst being plunged in debacles they saw a historic win. A win to remember for the ages, generations to inspire, to terminate all the sore wounds Bangladeshi fans had in the last few months.
New Zealand made a complete turnaround in the second Test but it wasn't good enough to win this home series for them as the affair ended at 1-1 which was a historic achievement for Bangladesh side as they denied a home series win to the world champions, New Zealand which speaks volumes about the calibre of this Bangladesh side.
