It was a sensational performance by the Bangla Tigers as they clinched a memorable victory against Australia for the first time in their history in the first of the two match Test series at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Mirpur. It was a thoroughly professional performance by the hosts to beat the Aussies and the statement made by Shakib ahead of the series that it will be a 2-0 result in favor of Bangladesh does seem a reality.
From the first day itself Bangladesh applied the pressure on Australia and on the back of two superb innings by Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh managed to score 260 in their 1st essay. Yet again it was Shakib who played a pivotal role in the bowling department and bagged 5 wickets to skittle out the visitors for a paltry 217, handing the hosts a lead by 43 runs.
Matt Renshaw and Ashton Agar scored 45 and 41 each to take Australia past the 200 mark. For one more time in the match, Tamim Iqbal played a brilliant knock and was dismissed on 78. Wickets fell at regular intervals as the hosts could not manage more than 221. Nathan Lyon was the wrecker-in-chief who bagged 6 wickets.
In the 2nd essay Australia got off to a shaky start but in the middle overs, David Warner and Steve Smith resurrected the innings with steady batting but it was again Shakib Al Hasan who spun the web around the Aussie middle order and bagged 5 innings yet another time. The visitors were eventually bowled out for 244 giving Bangladesh a 20 runs victory.
Steve Smith lauded Bangladesh for their maiden Test win against them.
”It was a great Test match. Credit to Bangladesh. The partnership between Tamim and Shakib set the game for them. We let ourselves down in the first innings and then we did not play well in the second innings. We needed someone to go out there and get a big score in the first innings. That was the difference in the end. No complaints, we got similar practice wickets. It spun from day one. Just that there was a bit of variable bounce today. I thought he (Warner) played really well to get a hundred. One of the wickets where you never felt in as such. We needed to get first innings lead. We are looking forward to the next game in Chittagong,” said Smith.
”It was a great Test match. Credit to Bangladesh. The partnership between Tamim and Shakib set the game for them. We let ourselves down in the first innings and then we did not play well in the second innings. We needed someone to go out there and get a big score in the first innings. That was the difference in the end. No complaints, we got similar practice wickets. It spun from day one. Just that there was a bit of variable bounce today. I thought he (Warner) played really well to get a hundred. One of the wickets where you never felt in as such. We needed to get first innings lead. We are looking forward to the next game in Chittagong,” said Smith.