Great job, Bangladesh!
Cricket fans couldn't expect a more thrilling finish to a match that proved to be intense since day one, going against Test cricket's established slow-and-steady-wins-the-race formula. A four-day test of grit and character that swung in favour of the Aussies one moment and the Tigers the next. Both teams battled doggedly, setting and chasing targets and trying to limit each other's lead with the fans kept on their toes all the while. In the end, the better team emerged victorious.
Bangladesh's maiden Test victory against the once-invincible Australia will also be remembered as a match in its own right. Australia may gain some consolation from the fact that their 20-run loss was not an accident. They were defeated by a team that had also defeated cricket's mightiest teams over the past few years, and it was only a matter of time before they clinched their first win against them. The reason it was so satisfying to watch is because victory in a Test match may sometimes come from a sudden collapse or a chance turn of events, but throughout this match, both teams challenged each other and fought with everything they had until the end.
Shakib Al Hasan, who batted superbly in Bangladesh's first innings and was a constant threat in both of Australia's innings, deserves special mention for his performance. With his list of achievements growing with every match, in all versions of cricket, Shakib has once again proved why is he should be put in the same league as the legendary all-rounders of the game. In his post-match reaction, he thanked the fans for their trust in the team. We think it's Shakib and his colleagues who deserve our thanks for living up to our trust.
Comments