Bangladesh made history on Sunday by chasing down 57 runs for a nine wicket victory over Australia in the series opener in Darwin, securing their first ever Test win in the country in what is being described as one of the sport’s greatest upsets.
Mominul Haque cut Beau Webster to the boundary for the winning runs, sealing the landmark triumph within four days in stifling heat at Marrara Oval. The result came despite a valiant century from Australia’s Cameron Green, whose efforts ultimately proved insufficient.
The winning boundary triggered wild celebrations among the Bangladesh players, who jumped and shouted on the sidelines, while their supporters in the crowd erupted with joy.
Defeating a full strength Australia side, ranked as the world’s top Test nation, on their own turf is likely to be regarded as Bangladesh’s finest achievement in 26 years of playing the longest format of the game.
Australia had hosted Bangladesh for only a second Test series since sweeping them 2 0 in 2003, and Najmul Hossain Shanto’s side were determined to prove their worth. They did far more than that, dominating the World Test Championship leaders with bat, ball, and in the field during virtually every session.
Bangladesh had heroes throughout the contest, but on day four it was spin bowling all rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz who delivered the decisive blows as Australia were bowled out for 284.
Having scored 65 in Bangladesh’s first innings and claimed the wicket of Australia’s traditional saviour Steve Smith for 44 on day three, Miraz took four more wickets on the fourth day after Australia resumed on 161 for four, still 67 runs behind.
“It was excellent. A great moment for us,” Miraz said. “The way we are playing shows our character. Everything was perfect.”
The grinning 28 year old had wicketkeeper Alex Carey caught behind for 30 and bowled Webster for five with a pair of sumptuous deliveries, exposing Australia’s tail.
Captain Pat Cummins was caught close in for eight, with Miraz inducing a bat pad catch for Shadman Islam. Mitchell Starc then dug in with Green for a defiant eighth wicket partnership of 43, but he was caught behind for 18 off the bowling of fellow seamer Taskin Ahmed.
Green held on to raise his third Test century and his first on home soil after lunch with two runs off Taskin. The defiant knock was a timely response to critics of his place in the side, but he was soon bowled for 104, playing onto his stumps to give Hasan Mahmud his ninth wicket of the match.
With only a 50 run lead and tailenders Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood clinging to the final wicket, Green’s departure effectively ended Australia’s resistance. Miraz wrapped up the innings by trapping Lyon lbw for 15.
With clumps of delirious Bangladesh fans chanting between every ball, Shadman and Haque efficiently knocked off the remaining runs. Opener Tanzid Hasan was bowled by Hazlewood for a duck but will hardly care, having scored a majestic 101 in the first innings to help Bangladesh post 426 in reply to Australia’s paltry 198.
Bangladesh’s emphatic nine wicket victory in Darwin is a landmark moment in their cricketing history, and one that will resonate long after the final ball was bowled in this remarkable Test match.
