Twitter Reactions: Glenn Phillips shines on Day 3, BAN-NZ 2nd Test headed for intriguing finish

15 wickets fell on Day 1 of the second Test between Bangladesh and New Zealand in Dhaka as the home team was bowled out for 172 before before reducing New Zealand to 55/5 at Stumps. Day 2 was completely washed out but the game continued to move at a rapid rate on Day 3, where only 32.3 overs were bowled.

After no play was possible in the first session due to a wet outfield, Glenn Phillips and Daryl Mitchell started the proceedings for the Blackcaps. They played some aggressive strokes before Mitchell was dismissed by Nayeem Hasan as Mehidy Hasan Miraz took a fine catch, running to his left from long-on. The sixth-wicket partnership between Phillips and Mitchell gave New Zealand some hope for a resurgence. However, they were still trailing by 77 runs. Mitchell Santner couldn’t get going as he was dismissed by Nayeem for 1.

Phillips was going strong from one end and he received good support from Kyle Jamieson. The former counter-attacked the Bangladeshi bowlers and put them on the back foot. Phillips and Jamieson stitched a vital 55-run partnership off just 53 balls, thereby helping the visitors to inch closer to Bangladesh’s first-innings score.

Thereafter, Tim Southee joined Phillips after Jamieson was dismissed by Shoriful Islam. They added 28 runs off 26 balls before the set batter was dismissed for an excellent 87 off 72 balls on a pitch that was providing ample assistance to spinners as well as pacers. Phillips hit nine fours and four sixes in his entertaining innings and when the last wicket of Southee fell, New Zealand had taken a lead of eight runs. Taijul Islam and Mehidy finished with three wickets apiece while Shoriful and Nayeem bagged two wickets each.

Ajaz Patel bowled the first over and gave the Blackcaps the ideal start, as he dismissed Mahmudul Hasan Joy off his third ball. The two left-handed batters, Najmul Hossain Shanto and Zakir Hasan added 33 runs before the former chipped a ball from Southee straight to Kane Williamson at mid-off, resulting in a soft dismissal. The umpires decided that the light wasn’t good enough for the play to continue as teams walked back to their respective dressing rooms. The light condition didn’t improve as the ‘Bangla Tigers’ finished the day at 38/2 with a lead of 30 runs on the board. Mominul Haque and Zakir will continue the Bangladesh innings when they come out to bat on Day 4 of the second Test of the series.

Here’s how ‘X’ users reacted to Day 3 of the second Test between Bangladesh and New Zealand: