Thousands of people took to the streets in cities across Bangladesh as the perennially second-tier side beat England by 108 runs on Sunday to post one of their most momentous cricketing victories.
It was Bangladesh’s first win in the game’s long form against a full-strength major Test-playing country. It was also only the eighth Test victory in 95 matches since the country secured Test status in 2000.
Chasing a target of 273, England seemed to be cruising when Alastair Cook and Ben Duckett guided them to 100 without loss at tea.
But teenage spinner Mehedi Hasan triggered a dramatic collapse in the final session of the third day. England crumbled to 164 all out to suffer their first-ever defeat by Bangladesh in 10 Tests.
Mehedi, a 19-year-old playing only his second Test, was declared man of the match for bagging 12 wickets in the game which ended Sunday, two days early – and man of the series for a wicket tally of 19 over both games.
“It’s a great moment for Bangladesh cricket. It was up and down and you never knew which team would win,” said jubilant captain Mushfiqur Rahim.
“The coach was a bit fired up at tea. We didn’t bowl too well. Then they tried to bowl in good areas and did really well. The bowlers did a great job.
“We didn’t think Mehedi will shine like this. He’s a good batsman as well and hopefully will be a great all-rounder for Bangladesh.”
More cricket
• Mehedi Hasan: Bangladesh's humble teen earning plaudits but just trying to 'perform averagely'
• Osman Samiuddin: Case of Jackson Bird emblematic of cricket's demand for multi-faceted players
• Paul Radley: West Indies finally get some wind in their sails, improbably from Carlos Brathwaite
As Mehedi dismissed Steven Finn to level the two-Test series 1-1, joyful fans waved national flags and shouted slogans to mark the historic occasion.
“Thousands came out on the streets to celebrate victory,” said Mahbub Hassan, police chief of Dhaka’s Mirpur neighbourhood where the match took place.
“Young kids to elderly people – everybody is celebrating,” Mahbub told AFP.
Flag-waving fans flashed victory signs as they marched through the streets.
Supporters also staged processions in the port city of Chittagong where the first Test was played, local police chief Jashim Uddin said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is also a cricket fan, congratulated the players, coach and officials.
“The whole nation is proud of seeing the team spirit of our players and their tremendous performance,” her spokesman Ihsanul Karim quoted her as saying.
Social media was flooded with thousands of comments.
“The teenage wonder-boy has given us first win over England! So this is party time!” Facebook user Ahsan Al Mahbub wrote in reference to Mehedi.
Facebook user Mainul Islam Rahat recalled, in reference to Bangladesh’s underwhelming performances in their early years, that Test matches used to end in their defeat within three days.
“But nowadays, we have levelled up to the driver’s seat!”
Shakib Al Hasan’s salute after sending Ben Stokes back to the pavilion went viral as thousands of supporters posted photos imitating him.
The last time the country saw similar celebrations was in March 2015 when Bangladesh’s one-day team beat England in the 2015 World Cup to reach the quarter-finals.
*Agence France-Presse
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport
