Journalism of Courage
The second Test between Bangladesh and New Zealand ended in a draw on Friday after rain washed out the fifth and final days play at Dhakas Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. The result ensured the two teams shared the spoils in the series after the first Test in Chittagong also ended in a draw.
Match officials called off play at 2:08 pm local time after overnight showers and continuous drizzle made the ground unplayable. Bangladesh were 269-3 overnight in the second innings,leading New Zealand by 114 runs. Left-handed batsman Mominul Haque remained unbeaten on 126 alongside former captain Shakib Al Hasan on 32 not out.
Bangladesh were under pressure on the fourth day,trailing New Zealand by 155 runs in the first innings before Mominul and Tamim Iqbal wiped out the deficit and put Bangladesh in front,adding 157 runs for the third wicket.
Mominul,who also made 181 runs in the first innings of the first Test and aggregated 376 runs in the series,was named both man of the match and of the series.
Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim praised the consistency of his side. It was not easy for us. We played a Test match after nearly five-six months. We didnt get that many chances to play longer-version matches. It was a challenge for us.
New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum was frustrated at failing to win the series but hailed his sides batting. I think obviously we came here and we wanted to win this Test series and we were expected to do so as well, said
McCullum. But if we strip it right back I think that the cricket weve played through the series has been very good.
I think our battings been outstanding; our bowling has stood up in tough conditions.
And whilst we didnt get the results,I think the cricket we played has been really good and I think a drawn series is a fair reflection because I also think that Bangladesh played some excellent cricket in this series as well.
Brief scores: Bangladesh 282 & 269 for 3 in 89 ovs (M Haque 126 batting,T Iqbal 70; N Wagner 2/52) vs New Zealand 437 in 140 overs (C Anderson 116,BJ Watling 70 not out; S Al Hasan 5/103)
