Bangladesh script history in Dhaka
Shakib takes second fivewicket haul to guide hosts to 20run win against Australia and take 10 lead
DHAKA: Bangladesh registered their first-ever win over Australia in Test cricket on Wednesday, beating Steve Smith’s men by 20 runs in Dhaka. All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan took 5-85 to help the hosts dismiss Australia for 244 shortly into the second session on the fourth day.
David Warner top-scored with 112 for the tourists, who were chasing a victory target of 265 after dismissing the hosts for 221 in their second innings.
Shakib lived up to his billing as the world’s number one Test all-rounder, finishing with a match haul of 10 wickets with his left-arm spin and making 84 in Bangladesh’s first-innings total of 260.
Australia, ranked fourth to Bangladesh’s lowly ninth, appeared to be coasting towards their fifth consecutive Test win over the minnows when Warner and Smith resumed the day on 109 for two.
Warner, who was unbeaten on 75 overnight, reached his 19th Test century off 121 balls with two runs off spinner Taijul Islam. But Shakib brought Bangladesh back into the game, dismissing both Warner and Smith (37) to put pressure on the tourists.
Pat Cummins hit a valiant 33 not out after Shakib bowled Glenn Maxwell (14) off the first ball of the second session, leaving Australia tottering on 199-8.
Cummins hit three fours and two sixes to bring his side achingly close to a win, but Shakib’s spin partner Taijul brought the curtain down on the innings with his dismissal of Josh Hazlewood for nought. A GREAT FEELING
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was watching from the stands, waved the nation’s flag as the team celebrated their historic win. “It’s a great feeling beating Australia, and I think it was a great effort by the boys, especially Shakib,” said captain Mushfiqur Rahim.
“Our performance in home conditions has been pretty consistent and against England also we were very close in the first Test and we beat them in the second Test.
“That’s the belief we had and also our spinners did a great job,” he added, saying Bangladesh would now be looking to seal the series.
Australia have not played a Test in Bangladesh since Ricky Ponting’s team visited in 2006, six years after Bangladesh were granted Test status.
Bangladesh 260 & 221. Australia 217 & 244 all out in 70.5 overs (D Warner 112, S Smith 37, Shakib 5/85, Taijul 3/60). Bangladesh won by 20 runs.