Bangladesh created history as they beat Australia by 20 runs on the fourth day of the first Test match at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Wednesday. The Bengal tigers looked totally different and had an eye on the kangaroos for a long time. What a day it is for the International cricket. This was the first test defeat ever for Australia against the Bangladesh. Bangladesh, with this leads the two match test series 1-0.
Bangladesh, in the first innings scored 260 runs in which Tamim Iqbal scored 71 and Shakib scoring handsomely for the hosts. Then, the Bangladesh bowlers did a brilliant job to dismiss Australia for 217. Shakib took five wickets while Mehidy Hasan scalped three wickets. In the second innings Bangladesh scored 221, setting a target of 264.
Australia entered the fourth day needing 156 runs with eight wickets in hand. Australia’s captain Steven Smith and David Warner added 130 but left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan dismissed both the batsmen and their middle-order failed to rise the occasion. It seems to be the rising of the tigers in the series. Their body language and performance was tremendously fabulous. From 158 for 2, Australia slipped to 199 for 8. Lower-order batsmen Pat Cummins (33 not out) and Nathan Lyon (12) then tried to stabilise the innings but Taijul Islam removed Lyon to seal the issue and Australia failed to chase and lost the match by 20 runs.
Shakib Al Hasan showed his real character as an all rounder in this match by taking 10 wickets and adding 84 valuable runs for the team. With this, he was also awarded the man of the match award.
Matches like these create curiosity amongst the fans and keeps on reminding us that no team is less than the other and cricket is an unpredictable game. With one more test left to be played between these two teams, the excitement has already taken to another level.
