Yasir shines amid ruins

It was another horrific day for Bangladesh in Christchurch, and this time, the threat was not a gunman but a bunch of pacers, who tamed the Tigers for just 126 runs in their first innings at Hagley Oval.

The wicket looked batting-friendly during the New Zealand innings, where they declared on 521-6. But when Bangladesh came to bat, they could hardly survive the stings from the Tim Southee-Trent Boult-Kyle Jamieson trio.

The Tigers’ first innings lasted only 41.2 overs, opposite of what they displayed at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui a few days back.

The absence of Mahmudul Hasan, who played patient innings of 78 runs, was heavily felt. His replacement, Mohammad Naim, went for a duck in his debut Test.

Amid the ruins, only Yasir Ali was the stark difference with his determined innings, earning him his first half-century in international cricket. He scored 55 before getting out as the penultimate batsman for Bangladesh.

It took Yasir a long time to make his international debut, as he had been a travelling reserve for quite some time. He played in the first Test against Pakistan in Chattogram but suffered a blow in the head and had to leave the ground as per the concussion rule.

Yasir was retired hurt on 36 in the second innings of his first Test. Then he came to New Zealand, where he played a patient knock of 26 runs, adding a valuable 75 runs with Mehidy Hasan Miraz, giving Bangladesh an edge over the Blackcaps in the first Test.

He has been putting in some bits and pieces performances since his debut, but on Monday, Yasir might have shown that he is more than what he has done so far.

Yasir came to bat at a very complex situation when the top-order had been trampled by the Kiwi pacers. From there, he formed a 60-run partnership with Nurul Hasan Sohan, saving the humiliation partially.

He counterpunched the chin-music from Kiwi pacers with pull shots, earning him a few boundaries, and showed his courage, which the batting coach Ashwell Prince referred to in his post-match media engagement.

“Yasir, only playing his third Test, was unluckily caught down the leg-side at the Mount. He applied himself well in that game, and today as well. He was solid in defence. He was decisive in the attack. You have to be decisive playing a defensive or an attacking shot. The keyword is decisive with whatever option you will be taking,” the former Protea batsman.

But these two performances could not salvage Bangladesh from a collapse, especially the failure at the top and Prince did not try to hide his disappointment.

“Of course, we are disappointed. It was a massive effort last week. We played 173 overs against a quality bowling attack. I think it is fair to say that we expected NZ to come back with a lot more urgency in this game," he added.