Dhaka: Bangladesh registered their first-ever win over Australia in Test cricket, beating Steve Smith’s men by 20 runs in a thrilling match at the Mirpur Stadium here Wednesday.
All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan (5/85) played a major role in scripting his side’s win as Australia were dismissed for 244 shortly into the second session on the fourth day. David Warner top-scored with 112 (135b, 16×4, 1×6) for the tourists, who were chasing a victory target of 265.
Shakib lived up to his billing as the world’s No.1 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 seemed to be coasting towards their fifth consecutive Test win over minnows Bangladesh when Warner and skipper Steve Smith (37, 99b, 3×4) 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 (3/60).
But Shakib brought Bangladesh back into the game, dismissing both Warner and Smith to put pressure on the tourists.
Pat Cummins hit a valiant 33 (55b, 3×4, 2×6) not out after Shakib bowled Glenn Maxwell (14) off the first ball of the second session, leaving Australia tottering on 199-8. Cummins brought his side achingly close to a win, but Taijul brought the curtain down on the innings with his dismissal of Josh Hazlewood for nought.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was watching from the stands, waved the nation’s flag as the jubilant players embraced and 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 of his all-rounder, who was named man of the match. “Our performances in home conditions have been pretty consistent and against England also we were very close in the first Test and we beat them in the second Test,” he added.
A dejected Smith said his men could have performed better with the bat in the first innings when they scored 217, since the bounce and spin proved especially devilish the second time around.
“It was a great Test match. Credit to Bangladesh, the way they played,” Smith said. “The first innings, I thought the partnership between Shakib and Tamim really set the game up for them. I thought we fought back really nicely after that thought we let ourselves down a bit in the first innings with the bat.”
Brief scores: Bangladesh 260 and 221 beat Australia 217 and 244 (David Warner 112, Shakib Al Hasan 5/85, Taijul Islam 3/60) by 20 runs.
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