5 occasions when Bangladesh came close to defeating a Top Test side
Bangladesh may have retained their reputation as giant-killers but there have been Test matches in the past where some golden opportunities have gone begging. But for these squandered chances and lacklustre attitude, Bangladesh cricket would have scaled unfathomable heights by now. However, the Bangla tigers have a habit of giving the top sides a run for their money. Ahead of their one-off Test against India, we rewind the clock back to some memorable Tests which they could have won:
Bangladesh vs. Pakistan, 3rd Test Match, 2003, Multan, Pakistan
Bangladesh began their first innings in the final test at Multan on a confident note. Despite losing an early wicket to pacer- Umar Gul, they put up a positive display of batting and were further helped by Habibul Bashar’s fine form with the bat. The chief architect of Bangladesh’s first innings total, Basher along with Javed Omar forged a 74 run partnership to steady the rocking ship before getting out for a well made 72 which included some magnificent drives and pulls.
After Basher’s dismissal, it was all downhill for Bangladesh who kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Although, the middle order did try and show some resistance with Rajin Saleh playing a patient knock of 49 runs, a powerful Pakistan bowling attack proved too hot for the lower order batsmen to handle as they restricted Bangladesh to a decent score of 281 in the first innings. Umar Gul was the pick of the bowlers as he went to take four wickets conceding just 86 runs from his 32 overs. He was ably supported by medium pacer -Shabbir Ahmed who picked three wickets for 70 from his 25 overs.
In reply to Bangladesh’s 281, Pakistan’s batting began on a dicey note as Khaled Mahmud trapped Mohammed Hafeez lbw at the score of 21. On a pitch that was offering some support to the bowlers, Bangladesh fashioned an impressive bowling performance bundling out Pakistan for a mere 175 and secured a crucial 106-run first innings lead. The left-arm spin of Rafique who took a five-for and Mahmud’s 4 for 37 had put Bangladesh in the driver’s seat.
However, Bangladesh failed to make a better fist of the lead as their top order collapsed in the second innings slipping to 41/4 handing the advantage to Pakistan. And yet again, it was the pace duo of Shabbir Ahmed and Umar Gul that inflicted damage on Bangladeshi batsmen taking 4 wickets apiece as the visitors tottered their way to 154 setting Pakistan a target of 261 runs.
Fortunes kept fluctuating in this cracker of a game as Bangladesh bowlers put up a resilient fight reducing the home side to 148/6 after they had got off to a good start. Just when things seemed to be going Bangladesh’s way and a historic win was in sight; Pakistan captain- Inzamam-ul-Haq (138) put his foot down scoring a belligerent hundred and together with the lower-order batsmen, propelled his team to a one-wicket win over Bangladesh.
In a Test match where fate kept changing hands, Bangladesh would indeed rue their chances as they saw victory slip out of their hands, albeit by a slim margin.
Bangladesh vs. Australia, 1st Test Match, 2006, Fatullah, Bangladesh
Bangladesh won the toss at Fatullah and decided that they would bat first against Ricky Ponting’s all-conquering Australia. The start to the test match proved to be an antithesis for Ponting’s men who were sent on a hapless leather hunt by Shahriar Nafees, whose brilliant maiden test hundred together with Habibul Bashar’s patient knock of 76 piled on the agony of a clueless Australian attack.
With useful contributions from Rajin Saleh (67) and other lower-order batsmen, Bangladesh put on an imposing total of 427 at the end of the first innings with spinner Stuart MacGill’s herculean effort (8 for 108) being the only bright spot in Australia’s otherwise depleted bowling spell.
However, Bangladesh backed their thrilling outing with the bat with an equally intimidating bowling performance against a star-studded Australian batting restricting them to only 269 and securing a first-innings lead of 158. Mohammad Rafique took the centre stage picking up 5 for 62 and was ably supported by fast-bowler Mashrafe Mortaza and left-arm spinner Enamul Haque Jr who got two wickets apiece. For Australia, wicket-keeper batsman Adam Gilchrist hit a brilliant hundred (144) of 212 deliveries which included 15 hits to the fence and six maximums.
But Bangladesh’s appalling second-innings record came back to haunt them as a spirited bowling feat from fast bowler Jason Gillespie (3 for 18) and leg-spinner Shane Warne (3 for 28) confined the hosts to a second-innings total of just 148.
With 307 runs required to win, Australia rode high on a 109 run-second-wicket-partnership between Ricky Ponting and Mathew Hayden cruising to 173/1 before losing two quick wickets to their key nemesis in that match; Mohammad Rafique. In spite of yet another feisty spell from Rafique (4 for 98), Australia managed to scamper through to victory with Ricky Ponting sealing the game with an unbeaten 118.
In a match filled with such frenetic ups and downs, you have to hand it to Bangladesh for running Australia so close. But for Ricky Ponting’s riposte with the bat and some luck, Bangladesh could have fulfilled their dream of beating a top-class test side that day.