Mehedi magnificent as Bangladesh earns series draw with historic win

Bangladesh defeated England for the first time in Test cricket, taking all 10 wickets in a single session to win the second Test by 108 runs and level the series 1-1.

Published : Oct 30, 2016 09:31 IST

Mehedi Hasan Miraz, playing his second Test, ended with 12 wickets — picking six each in two innings.
Mehedi Hasan Miraz, playing his second Test, ended with 12 wickets — picking six each in two innings.
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Mehedi Hasan Miraz, playing his second Test, ended with 12 wickets — picking six each in two innings.

Teenage off-spinner Mehedi Hasan excelled once again as Bangladesh completed a landmark victory over England in Dhaka to earn a richly deserved share of the spoils in its two-Test series.

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Bangladesh was narrowly beaten in a thrilling first Test, but was not to be denied on this occasion, triumphing by 108 runs despite a thrilling fightback from its opponents midway through the fourth day.

Having been set a stiff target of 273, England reached 100-0 at tea, thanks largely to a counter-attacking maiden fifty from Ben Duckett in his second Test.

Yet a dramatic collapse — very much in keeping with the numerous shifts in momentum that have produced such excitement throughout this absorbing series — followed in Sunday's evening session, Mehedi claiming 6-77 to finish with 12 wickets in the match and Shakib Al Hasan returning 4-49 as Alastair Cook's side slumped to 164 all out.

The host was therefore able to celebrate their most notable Test triumph — a first against England — amid jubilant scenes at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

Mehedi, meanwhile, has emerged as a new rising star in international cricket, having confounded England's batsmen to claim 19 scalps in a magnificent debut series.

Having slumped from 171-1 to 220 in the first innings, Bangladesh suffered another collapse on day four, which saw Adil Rashid (4-52) and Ben Stokes (3-52) combine to take the last six wickets for 58 runs.

However, the target nevertheless appeared likely to prove immensely challenging for England, who has never chased more than 209 to win a Test in Asia.

Duckett overcame a nervy start, during which he was dropped by Mahmudullah on 12, to counter-attack superbly, the young opener enjoying particular success with a number of orthodox and reverse sweeps.

Successive Duckett boundaries off Mehedi, through fine-leg and midwicket, brought up his maiden Test fifty and the team's 100 shortly before tea.

However, Mehedi gained immediate revenge by bowling the left-hander for 56 with the first ball of the evening and wickets tumbled thereafter.

Cook battled to 59, having seen two reviews go in his favour, but Stokes (25) was the only other England batsman to reach double figures as Mehedi capitalised superbly on a surface offering appreciable turn.

After the 19-year-old had completed his five-wicket haul with the wicket of Jonny Bairstow (3), Shakib made the next three breakthroughs.

Yet it was Mehedi who fittingly had the final say, trapping Steven Finn lbw for a duck to spark joyous celebrations.

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