Bangladesh 260 (Shakib 84, Tamim 71, Agar 3-46, Cummins 3-63) and 221 (Tamim 78, Mushfiqur 41, Lyon 6-82) beat Australia 217 (Renshaw 45, Shakib 5-68) and 244 (Warner 112, Shakib 5-85) by 20 runs
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Shakib Al Hasan picked up his second ten-wicket haul in Tests © Getty Images
So, Test cricket is in danger, is it? Ha! Test cricket laughs in the face of danger. Twice in the space of 14 hours, the game’s world order has been thoroughly rattled, with two of the most memorable results in recent years. The first jolt came at Headingley, where West Indies upset England for their first victory in the country since 2000; the next day in Mirpur, Shakib Al Hasan bowled Bangladesh to a thrilling, historic maiden win over Australia.
Set 265 for victory, the Australians began the fourth morning in a strong position at 109 for 2. They continued to tighten their grip as David Warner reached his 19th Test hundred and his second in Asia, and compiled a 130-run partnership with Steven Smith, Australia’s highest century stand in the fourth innings in Asia. But on a pitch offering turn and variable bounce, Bangladesh were back once that stand was broken. Despite the best lower-order efforts of Pat Cummins, left unbeaten on 33, Bangladesh sealed the win by 20 runs.
Bangladesh have now won Tests against England, Sri Lanka and Australia within the past year. In the previous 16 years of their Test existence, they had defeated only Zimbabwe and a second-string West Indies outfit ravaged by a player strike. The significance of their successes over the past 12 months cannot be understated. It is no coincidence that the major contributors to this triumph were two of their most experienced players, Shakib and Tamim Iqbal.
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Brydon Coverdale is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @brydoncoverdale
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo