The Dhaka Test finds itself on a knife’s edge at the end of the third day as New Zealand counterattacked to cut the deficit and then picked two quick wickets before bad light brought an early end to the proceedings. Glenn Phillips’s 72-ball 87 pushed New Zealand just past the Bangladesh total before Ajaz Patel and Tim Southee picked two wickets to leave the hosts on 38/2 – with a lead of 30 runs – at stumps.

After the second day was completely washed out, wet outfield and bad light disrupted Day 3 too, with only 32.3 overs bowled in all. Yet there was plenty of action that moved the game along at a rather brisk pace. Glenn Phillips was at the heart of New Zealand’s strong riposte as he counterattacked Bangladesh’s spinners expertly. No play was possible in the morning session but when it did begin post Lunch, Bangladesh spinners looked to continue from where they left off on Day 1. There was ample turn and bounce for them to employ a couple of close in catches and attack the two batters with spin from both ends.

Phillips took the aggressive route against the viciously turning ball as he stood deep in his crease and played cut shots at deliveries that weren’t short enough, and unfurled the slog sweep at a whim. Mehidy Hasan was the recipient of the early carnage that dragged New Zealand ahead from the precarious position of 55 for 5 in response to Bangladesh’s 172. He got the scorecard moving briskly while Daryl Mitchell did enough to keep the outside edge of his bat away from the turning ball to stay put. After an initial nervous exchange, he too looked to cut loose and gave Nayeem Hasan the charge for a big hit down the ground but had to depart as Mehidy Hasan sprinted across from long on and took an exceptional catch.

Nayeem looked to speed up the end of New Zealand’s innings as he dismissed Mitchell Santner soon after to leave the visitors tottering at 97 for 7. Kyle Jamieson then walked out to put on a stubborn stand of 55 runs for the eighth wicket that ate into the deficit. During this alliance, Phillips brought up his 38-ball half-cetury – the joint-fastest for a New Zealand batter against Bangladesh. He also tried to shift gears further and dragged the team towards Bangladesh’s total. With spinners being dealt with, Najmul Hossain Shanto brought in pace from one end via Shoriful Islam and reaped instant rewards. On the first ball of his new spell, Islam got Jamieson to nick one to the keeper and depart for a 28-ball 20. Tim Southee dragged New Zealand’s essay in Phillips’s company before Shoriful ended the latter’s fine knock on 87 off just 72 deliveries.

Taijul Islam then returned to dismiss Southee, but by this stage New Zealand had gone past Bangladesh’s total to take a slender eight-run lead.

Southee didn’t waste any time in employing a spinner as Ajaz opened the bowling and struck on the third ball to dismiss Mahmudul Hasan Joy, caught by Mitchell at first slip. Zakir Hasan and Najmul Hossain looked to build a quick lead but the latter fell in the eighth over when he tamely drove on the up off Southee straight to Kane Williamson at mid-off. Right after this dismissal bad light stopped play. After a wait of more than an hour and thorough inspection by the umpires, play was called off. As it stands, Bangladesh head into the fourth day with a lead of 30 runs.

Brief Scores:
New Zealand 180 (Glenn Phillips 87, Mehidy Hasan 3-53) trail  Bangladesh 172 (Mushfiqur Rahim 35; Glenn Phillips 3-31, Mitchell Santner 3-54) & 38/2 (Ajaz Patel 1-13, Tim Southee 1-8) by 30 runs