Moments after Bangladesh drew the second Test against Zimbabwe at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday to complete a historic series victory, the 50-year-old tactician rightly said: "Saving the Test match here went a long way in showing people that batsmen of Bangladesh are not just about crash-bang wallops. They do have the ability to occupy the crease for a long period of time. In the greater picture of Bangladesh's cricket this is very significant. It's better than a win."

Indeed the way the Tigers applied themselves over one and a half days after Zimbabwe set stiff victory target of 374 was a sight to behold considering Bangladesh's past record of tumbling under pressure.

True that Zimbabwe was not the strongest side that had toured Bangladesh, but chasing more than 350-plus on a typical sub-continent wicket and surviving four sessions would test even the very best team.

And in the case of Bangladesh it was a mountain to climb only days after celebrating their greatest-ever triumph in the five-day game in Chittagong.

Many feared another collapse on the cards after the first-innings debacle and a few gave up hope when Zimbabwe took a 290-run lead with four wickets still in hand after the third day's play.

But as it often happens in a classic Test match, there were ups and downs for the next two days and the Tigers rose to the occasion when it mattered most by accomplishing a 'mission impossible' to save the Test match.

Bangladesh might not have achieved the target that only three teams India, West Indies and Australia have accomplished but they did something no less important and that was bat for five sessions to ensure a draw.

They did it by scoring less than two runs an over and nothing could have been better than this: A maiden Test win and a series victory altogether, just four years after making debut on the big scene.

It was a fitting finish to a series that began with Bangladesh amassing their biggest total of 488 in the first innings at Chittagong.

The experienced campaigners started it with Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar scoring back-to-back 50s in the port city while left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique taking another five-wicket haul. Zimbabwe skipper Tatenda Taibu was even more consistent scoring 330 including an imperious 153 at Dhaka.

But the series will be best remembered for the accession of youth with the record-breaking exploits of left-arm spinner Enamul Haque, who finished man-of-the-series with a haul of 18 wickets including 12 wickets (7-95 and 5-105) in the Dhaka Test alone.

The way the 18-year-old left-arm spinner responded to the task of taking the role of the strike bowler with country's leading wicket-taker Mohammad Rafique being half-fit, says it all about a real match winner in the making.

The pace duo of Mashrafee Bin Mortuza and Tapash Baisya always gave the breakthroughs to reduce the workload for the spinners and Mashrafee's batting came as a plus in both the Tests with knocks of 48, 16 and 26.

But it was Nafees, a young man playing only his sixth Test preserved his best for last. He stuck to the team-plan to show patience and bat as long as possible, reaching his maiden Test hundred (121) in the line of duty.

Vice-captain and wicket-keeper Khaled Mashud remained as faithful as ever with his gloves and scoring useful runs in crucial moments, and his unbeaten 28 was on the final day was another example of commitment personified.