After all a win is a win

LET THE CELEBRATION START: Bangladesh debutant off-spinner Mahmudullah Riyad (2nd from L) is being chased by teammates as he runs for joy after having West Indies batsman Ryan Austin (R) dismissed for a duck in the final session of the fifth and final day of the first Test at Arnos Vale in Kingstown on Monday. Mamudullah took five wickets to fashion Bangladesh's first-ever away Test victory.Photo: AFPBishwajit Roy

Bangladesh landed in the West Indies with the tag of underdogs. But the moment the home side fielded a makeshift team following a boycott by the leading players ahead of the first Test -- the onus shifted to Bangladesh. It virtually left the Tigers with one choice: win the Test or be ready to suffer the blushes.

For the home team, who drafted seven debutants in a hastily assembled squad, there was nothing to lose but a lot was at stake for Mashrafe Bin Mortaza's men. Anything other than a win would only provide enough fuel to the critics who never make the mistake to raise their fingers towards the Tigers at the drop of a hat.

In the end what was refreshing for the cricket-loving people in the country was that a set of young cricketers under a new leader didn't succumb to untoward pressure in Kingstown, St. Vincent to bring more trouble for them after their poor showing in the five-day game.

So, when they scripted the 95-run victory it was not only their first-ever away Test triumph or only the second success in 60 Tests rather they achieved something more than that.

The victory may not have greeted with the same vigour like in the first Test victory against Zimbabwe in 2005 or some tremendous wins against giants like Australia, India, South Africa and Sri Lanka in the abridged version but still Jamie Siddons' charges deserve some credit.

One may argue that the Tigers should have dominated the proceedings or in other words controlled it from the words go on against a bits and pieces team. Some may also point to the first innings where the Tigers top-order suffered an all too familiar collapse. But if one considers the whole caboodle, it was satisfying in the end. Especially, the way our bowlers showed the aggression to go for the kill. Besides, a win is always a win no matter who the opponents are.

One can't deny the fact that the visitors had to go through nervous moments before achieving the victory. The reason was the same: the old dismal batting from the top order. And it was the late order act from Mushfiqur Rahim, captain Mashrafe and Shahadat Hossain, which salvaged the complete blushes in the first innings.

But they came back strongly in the second innings thanks to Tamim Iqbal and Zunaed Siddiqui who showed some character to give their team a total to fight.

During his maiden Test hundred Tamim might have showed recklessness but his determination to achieve the magical three-figure mark eventually paid of. He smashed four fours of successive deliveries off Darren Sammy after completing his hundred. It was enterprising but it would have been wise of him to consider not trying to smash every ball for four. Had he been out there for another hour and attempted a couple of odd boundaries in an over, something the best batsman in the world could not have done after just coming into the crease, it would have greatly helped in accelerating the run rate.

Zunaed also showed his patience to achieve his highest Test score if not that elusive hundred. Fortunately or unfortunately Mohammed Ashraful, who has played his part in almost all the previous Bangladesh wins, did not make any noticeable contribution in the match. It was a blessing in disguise. It means that Ashraful does not necessarily need to pull the strings for the Tigers to succeed. This win should provide great self-belief to the others and much needed humility for the just-past captain.