Gazi grabs hat-trick in drawn first Test

Bangladesh, New Zealand play out run fest in Chittagong.

CHITTAGONG: Bangladesh’s Sohag Gazi followed a maiden Test century with a hat-trick to light up the final stages of the first Test against New Zealand, which ended in a draw in Chittagong yesterday.

The 22-year-old off-spinner had Corey Anderson leg-before, Bradley-John Watling caught behind and Doug Bracewell caught in the slips off successive balls at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium.

Gazi’s hat-trick, which gave him his sixth wicket in the innings, saw the Black Caps slump from 260 for four to 260 for seven in their second knock after lunch on the fifth and final day.

The tourists declared the innings closed at 287 for seven, leaving Bangladesh a target of 256 runs in a minimum of 45 overs to win the Test and take the lead in the two-match series.

The hosts showed no appetite to chase the stiff target and ended play on 173 for three in the 49th over, with Shakib Al Hasan unbeaten on 50 and newcomer Mominul Haque on 22.

“This was obviously a very good Test match for me, it has made me believe I belong to this level,” said man-of-the-match Gazi. “I will go into the next match with a lot of self-confidence.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 14^th, 2013.

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