Internet Desk: Bangladesh’s star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has said that her wife’s ‘pep talk’ at the end of day 3 against Australia helped him to bowl well on day four and she is the mastermind of his brilliant performance in the fourth day of the first cricket Test at Dhaka.
The Tigers created history today as they beat the mighty Aussies for the first time in Test matches, where Shakib took five wickets in each innings o lead the hosts to a thrilling 20-run win at the Shere Bangla National Stadium.
“It feels great to contribute for the team. I thank the crowd for coming in and supporting us. Don’t know if people believed in us today or not, but during the drinks break, I told the rest of the team that ‘whoever has come to the ground today believes that we will win, so we can’t let these guys down,” said Shakib at the post match press-conference.
“Last night, I did not believe that we can win. I really did not. But my wife told me that ‘Shakib, you will make Bangladesh win tomorrow (Wednesday).’ So, thanks to my wife for believing in me,” he added.
Earlier in the morning Aussie skipper Steve Smith and David Warner came to bat and they needed only 156 runs with 8 wickets in hand. But Smith lost his wicket after adding just 12 more runs to his account.
Though Warner completed his century but all the other batsmen failed to put up a good fight against Bangladeshi spin bowling. Shakib Al Hasan celebrated his 50th Test appearance by scoring 84 in the first innings and finishing with a 10-wicket match haul, a performance worthy of his status as the world’s top-ranked Test all-rounder.
After Warner’s dismissal, Aussie tail-ender played some good shots to give some hope to the visitors, but his fight went in vain as Taijul Islam trapped Josh Hazlewood plum in front of the wicket to hand the side a historic win over Australia. Shakib was adjudged Man of the Match for his brilliant all-round performance.
Mushfiqur said the first innings partnership of 155 between Man-of-the-Match Shakib Al Hasan and opener Tamim Iqbal had been crucial to the victory with the former also taking 5-85 with his spin-bowling to help wrap up the win on Wednesday.
“Obviously a great feeling, beating Australia. A great effort by the boys, especially Shakib and Tamim were outstanding,” Mushfiqur said at the post-match presentation.
“If you look at our home performance, it has been pretty consistent. Against England (last year) also, we were very close in the first test and beat them in the second test. That’s the belief we have.
“I think the spinners did a great job. I thought Taijul (Islam), Miraj (Mehidy Hasan) and Shakib bowled really well in both the innings (but) I think Tamim-Shakib partnership in the first innings set up the game for us.”