Bangladesh Eyes Repeat Against New Zealand

Dhaka: Spinner Sohag Gazi is hoping to repeat the all-round heroics he showed in the drawn first Test against New Zealand as Bangladesh seek a rare series win against New Zealand this week.

The 22-year-old shone in the series opener in Chittagong earlier this month. He became the first cricketer in history to score a century and claim a hat-trick in the same Test, propelling him to instant stardom in the success-starved nation.

Gazi, who has played seven Tests in his fledgling career, returns on Monday to the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka -- scene of his outstanding nine-wicket debut against West Indies last year -- for the second and final Test of the series.

The off-spinner, who has since emerged as a bright all-round prospect, scored an unbeaten 101 in the first Test against New Zealand before taking 6-77 in the tourists' second innings including a hat-trick.

Gazi is hoping the wicket will offer some assistance to the Bangladesh spinners after they were frustrated by a flat batting pitch in Chittagong for long periods.

New Zealand scored 469 in their first innings before Bangladesh amassed 501, only the third time the hosts have passed the 500-run mark in their history.

Providing stark evidence of the ease of batting, the two teams together struck 27 sixes, which equalled the all-time record for most sixes in a Test match.

New Zealand batsman Peter Fulton said the pitch at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium could favour the spinners.

Bangladesh, with eight defeats in their past 12 matches, are rooted at rock bottom in the international rankings below Zimbabwe, with New Zealand just one place above them in eighth place.

The Test series will be followed by three one-day Internationals and a Twenty20 International.

Teams from:

Bangladesh: Mushfiqur Rahim (Capt. & wk), Mohammad Mahmudullah, Anamul Haque, Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan, Nasir Hossain, Abdur Razzak, Naeem Islam, Sohag Gazi, Rubel Hossain, Mominul Haque, Marshall Ayub, Robiul Islam, Al-Amin Hossain.

New Zealand: Brendon McCullum (Capt.), Peter Fulton, Hamish Rutherford, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Dean Brownlie, BJ Watling (wk), Tom Latham, Corey Anderson, Doug Bracewell, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult, Mark Gillespie, Ish Sodhi, Bruce Martin.

Pitch and conditions
The Mirpur pitch will be slow, but will offer much to batsmen and spinners. There was heavy rain on Sunday morning and forecasts suggest more showers over the next week.

Stats and trivia

• Sohag Gazi's hat-trick in the first Test was the first by a Bangladeshi spinner since Alok Kapali's achievement in 2003 against Pakistan.
• The 27 sixes hit during the first Test equaled the record for most sixes hit in a Test match. The other game with 27 sixes was played between India and Pakistan in Faisalabad in 2006.

Match facts
October 21-25, 2013
Start time 0930 local (0330 GMT)