The Story
Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib al Hasan achieved yet another feat during the ongoing 1st Test against Australia at Dhaka after he became one of just four players to register a five-wicket haul against every other Test-playing nation (excluding newcomers Afghanistan or Ireland).
The star cricketer, who is playing his 50th Test, has joined South Africa pace ace Dale Steyn and Sri Lanka spin wizards Muttiah Muralitharan and Rangana Herath on the list.
This milestone has come only a day after he became the second highest overall run getter for Bangladesh, top-scoring with a knock of 84 in the match-defining fourth-wicket stand with Tamim Iqbal.
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Shakib’s performance helped Bangladesh bundle out Australia for 217 and pocket a vital 43-run lead in the first innings. Shakib picked his first wicket at the stroke of stumps by trapping night-watchman Nathan Lyon for a duck. Later, he added Matthew Renshaw, on 45, edged to slip off the first ball of his new spell and got Glenn Maxwell stumped for 23 before adding Pat Cummins to his tally and put Australia in a spot of trouble.
He completed his five wicket haul, 16th of his career, with the wicket of Josh Hazlewood, who was caught at short leg.
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Earlier, Shakib and Tamim, the second and first in the list of Bangladesh’s all-time Test run-scoring list, battled it out to rescue Bangladesh from a tricky position of 3-10 and propelled them to 260 with the help of a highly appreciable stand of 155 on day one.
Off-spinner Nathan Lyon had some admiring words for the duo in the post-match presser.
“I think the two guys batted very brave,” he said. “They took the game on, which you have to do in these type of conditions.
“I’m going to sit here and give them credit. They’re two good players, they played some incredible shots out there and took the game on. Hats off to them.”