Tigers eye rare feat

With a rare feat in sight, Bangladesh are taking on hosts New Zealand in the second Test at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch today.

Thanks to an emphatic eight-wicket victory in the first Test at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui, Bangladesh now lead the two-match series 1-0 and are eyeing for what any Bangladeshi sides have never done before -- a series win away to New Zealand, which in fact, is considered a rare feat for any side in cricket.

If Mominul Haque and Co go on to win or even draw this match, Bangladesh will not only have registered their first-ever Test series victory over New Zealand, the current holders of the World Test Championship (WTC) title, but will also be the first Asian country in 11 years to beat New Zealand in a Test series on Kiwi soil.

It will also be the first time since 2017 that New Zealand would be surrendering a Test series at home.

After a dominant showing in the first Test, the focus will once again be on Bangladesh's pace trio --Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam and Ebadot Hossain -- on what is expected to be a grassy-top at the Hagley Oval. 

New Zealand, aside from being desperate to level the series that is part of the latest WTC cycle, will also play with an additional incentive of providing a victorious farewell to senior batsman Ross Taylor in his final Test before international retirement.