Bangladesh post historic Test victory against England

Bangladesh yesterday recorded their first Test victory over England, taking all ten wickets in a single session thanks to teen offspin sensation Mehedi Hasan to win the second Test by 108 runs and square the series.

Celebrations erupted at Dhaka’s Sher-eBangla Stadium and across the country as Bangladeshis revelled in one of the proudest moments in their sporting history. Chasing a target of 273, England seemed to be cruising when Alastair Cook and Ben Duckett guided them to 100 without loss at tea. But 19-year-old Mehedi, playing in only his second Test, triggered a dramatic collapse in the final session of the third day. England crumbled to 164 all out to suffer their first-ever defeat by Bangladesh in 10 Tests and share the two-Test series 1-1.

Bangladesh secured Test status in 2000 and the win was only their eighth in 95 Tests-and the first against a full-strength side from a major country. “It’s a great moment for Bangladesh cricket. It was up and down and you never knew which team would win,” said jubilant captain Mushfiqur Rahim. “The coach was a bit fired up at tea. We didn’t bowl too well. Then they tried to bowl in good areas and did really well. The bowlers did a great job. “We didn’t think Mehedi will shine like this. He’s a good batsman as well and hopefully will be a great all-rounder for Bangladesh.” Mehedi, who celebrated his 19th birthday this week, took the final wicket of Steven Finn to finish with 6-77 in the innings and 12 for 159 in the match. It was his country’s best-ever bowling figure in Tests, overtaking Enamul Haque Jr’s 12-200 against Zimbabwe in 2005. He finished the series with 19 scalps. Shakib Al Hasan, the only other Bangladeshi apart from Mehedi and Enamul to take 10 or more wickets in Tests, joined the party with 4-49, including three wickets in an over.