Bangladesh fast-bowler Ebadot Hossain was elated after his performance in the first Test against New Zealand as his magnificent spell of 6/46 pushed his team to a historic maiden win on Kiwi soil on January 5.
Hossain ran through the New Zealand batting unit in the second innings of the Test and helped dismiss them for a paltry 169, which meant their lead was only 39 after Bangladesh had piled on 458 to build a 130-run trail on the hosts in the first half.
Inarguably the best spell of his career, the skiddy right-arm seamer got the prized scalp of Ross Taylor at the start of Day 5 to firm Bangladesh’s grip over the contest and pave the way for an unprecedented Test victory over the Kiwiz.
The 27-year-old was awarded the ‘Player of the Match’ award for his great exploits. Speaking at the post-match presentation, he mentioned how he needed to work over his patience to bowl in foreign conditions, having grown up in Bangladesh where pitches offer the home seamers next to nothing and they have no chance to work over their skills properly.
“In the last two years, I have been working with (bowling coach) Ottis Gibson. Conditions are always flat at home. We are still learning how to bowl and reverse in away conditions. I am trying to hit the top of the stumps. I needed to be a little patient for success to come.”
he was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
Ebadot made it a point to stress the magnitude of his and his team’s achievements at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui, stating that Bangladesh had been coming and failing in New Zealand over the last 21 years. He also made a wish for the country’s next generation to follow suit and aspire to do the same in future.
“I would like to give thanks to Allah for the Test win. Our brothers and teams didn’t get win in the last 21 years in New Zealand. We set a goal this time. We raised our hand.
We said, ‘we have to beat New Zealand in their own soil’. Now that we have defeated the Test champions, our next generation has to beat New Zealand,”
he added.
Bangladesh also took an unassailable 1-0 lead in the two-match series and bagged crucial 12 points in the new cycle of the World Test Championship.
