The Test victories that got away from Bangladesh... and the one that didn't
Bangladesh's Test history has been sprinkled with some of the nearest misses imaginable. ESPNcricinfo looks back on their record of heartbreak
Andrew Miller
24-Oct-2016
Khaled Mahmud was left in tears after Bangladesh's loss in Multan • AFP
Multan 2003 - Lost by one wicket v Pakistan
Bangladesh's record in their first three years as a Test nation had been nothing short of humiliating when they arrived at Multan for the third and final match of their 2003 tour of Pakistan. They had lost 22 of their 23 previous matches - 15 by an innings - with only a rainy draw against Zimbabwe to disrupt that sorry record. But then, out of the blue, they produced the game of their lives and came within a solitary wicket of the biggest shock of the decade. Khaled Mahmud - their cuddly security blanket of a captain who had begun the tour with a Test bowling average of 406 - rose above his reputation with seven wickets in the match, while the left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique confirmed his status as the new attack leader with a first-innings five-wicket haul. The final day dawned with Pakistan on the ropes at 148 for 6 in their second innings, chasing 261 for victory and with all of their hopes invested in the home-town hero, Inzamam-ul-Haq. He delivered in heroic style, farming the strike and absorbing the pressure to finish 138 not out, despite running out his partner, Umar Gul, with four runs still required. Inzy was showered in rose petals as he left the field in triumph; but even in defeat, Bangladesh's players were garlanded at the airport on their return to Dhaka.
Bangladesh's record in their first three years as a Test nation had been nothing short of humiliating when they arrived at Multan for the third and final match of their 2003 tour of Pakistan. They had lost 22 of their 23 previous matches - 15 by an innings - with only a rainy draw against Zimbabwe to disrupt that sorry record. But then, out of the blue, they produced the game of their lives and came within a solitary wicket of the biggest shock of the decade. Khaled Mahmud - their cuddly security blanket of a captain who had begun the tour with a Test bowling average of 406 - rose above his reputation with seven wickets in the match, while the left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique confirmed his status as the new attack leader with a first-innings five-wicket haul. The final day dawned with Pakistan on the ropes at 148 for 6 in their second innings, chasing 261 for victory and with all of their hopes invested in the home-town hero, Inzamam-ul-Haq. He delivered in heroic style, farming the strike and absorbing the pressure to finish 138 not out, despite running out his partner, Umar Gul, with four runs still required. Inzy was showered in rose petals as he left the field in triumph; but even in defeat, Bangladesh's players were garlanded at the airport on their return to Dhaka.
Fatullah 2006 - Lost by three wickets v Australia
First the context - not that Australia would have accepted it as an excuse. Four days and five timezones earlier, Ricky Ponting's men had wrapped up a 3-0 series win against Graeme Smith's South Africa, having squeezed over the line by two wickets in Johannesburg, of all the polarising venues to have to get out of your system. They had barely enough time to shake off the jetlag, let alone the culture shock, as they rocked up at the extraordinary ramshackle outpost of Fatullah to be given the scare of their lives. A Shahriar Nafees century carried Bangladesh to 427 in the first innings (tellingly, the only bowler to put up a fight was Stuart MacGill, who claimed eight wickets in his first Test for four months) and Australia crashed to 156 for 7 in reply before, with the fury of champions, they roused themselves out of their torpor. Adam Gilchrist rallied the tail with a blistering century, Bangladesh were swept out for 148 second-time around, and at 173 for 1 in pursuit of 307, the game seemed done and dusted. Rafique, however, had other ideas, ripping out the middle order on a now-disintegrating wicket to claim nine wickets in the match, and the situation demanded every ounce of Ponting's bloody-minded brilliance to haul Australia over the line with one of the greatest centuries of his career.
First the context - not that Australia would have accepted it as an excuse. Four days and five timezones earlier, Ricky Ponting's men had wrapped up a 3-0 series win against Graeme Smith's South Africa, having squeezed over the line by two wickets in Johannesburg, of all the polarising venues to have to get out of your system. They had barely enough time to shake off the jetlag, let alone the culture shock, as they rocked up at the extraordinary ramshackle outpost of Fatullah to be given the scare of their lives. A Shahriar Nafees century carried Bangladesh to 427 in the first innings (tellingly, the only bowler to put up a fight was Stuart MacGill, who claimed eight wickets in his first Test for four months) and Australia crashed to 156 for 7 in reply before, with the fury of champions, they roused themselves out of their torpor. Adam Gilchrist rallied the tail with a blistering century, Bangladesh were swept out for 148 second-time around, and at 173 for 1 in pursuit of 307, the game seemed done and dusted. Rafique, however, had other ideas, ripping out the middle order on a now-disintegrating wicket to claim nine wickets in the match, and the situation demanded every ounce of Ponting's bloody-minded brilliance to haul Australia over the line with one of the greatest centuries of his career.
Chittagong 2008 - Lost by three wickets v New Zealand
Shakib Al Hasan has been consistently ranked among the best allrounders in the world for the best part of a decade, and must be wondering what more he has to do to haul his side from Test also-rans to genuine challengers (aside from staying in his crease in the first over of a day's play, of course…) But his near-miss in Chittagong against England has distinct echoes of his first great disappointment in national colours, on the same ground against New Zealand exactly eight years ago this week. Shakib, then 21, had claimed just three wickets in his six previous Tests, but catapulted himself to stardom with a first-innings haul of 7 for 36, still his best in Tests. New Zealand were rescued from 100 for 7 by their own left-arm spinning allrounder, Daniel Vettori, who made 55 not out, but Shakib seemed to have trumped him when his second-innings 71 rescued his side from a familiar top-order wobble to set a formidable target of 317. And yet, it was the elder statesman who had the final word. Vettori promoted himself to No. 4 and anchored the chase with a masterful 76, finally falling with 19 runs still required. Shakib toiled manfully for 44.5 overs, but his figures of 2 for 79 weren't quite good enough.
Shakib Al Hasan has been consistently ranked among the best allrounders in the world for the best part of a decade, and must be wondering what more he has to do to haul his side from Test also-rans to genuine challengers (aside from staying in his crease in the first over of a day's play, of course…) But his near-miss in Chittagong against England has distinct echoes of his first great disappointment in national colours, on the same ground against New Zealand exactly eight years ago this week. Shakib, then 21, had claimed just three wickets in his six previous Tests, but catapulted himself to stardom with a first-innings haul of 7 for 36, still his best in Tests. New Zealand were rescued from 100 for 7 by their own left-arm spinning allrounder, Daniel Vettori, who made 55 not out, but Shakib seemed to have trumped him when his second-innings 71 rescued his side from a familiar top-order wobble to set a formidable target of 317. And yet, it was the elder statesman who had the final word. Vettori promoted himself to No. 4 and anchored the chase with a masterful 76, finally falling with 19 runs still required. Shakib toiled manfully for 44.5 overs, but his figures of 2 for 79 weren't quite good enough.
And the one that went their way …
Mirpur 2014 - Won by three wickets v Zimbabwe
Taijul Islam's dismissal on the final morning against England was possibly the most heartbreaking moment of a gripping contest - he'd battled so valiantly for 33 deliveries, to give his team renewed belief throughout his 25-run stand with Sabbir Rahman, but when he was sent on his way via a DRS referral, he sunk to his haunches for ten full seconds, unable to believe he'd fallen short of glory. In the aftermath of England's victory, there was some criticism of Sabbir for exposing his team-mate so often, but then again, there aren't many Bangladeshis who have genuine experience of being a Test hero. Two years earlier, against Zimbabwe at Dhaka, Taijul struck the winning runs in a similiarly excruciating finale, having joined Mushfiqur Rahim at an uncompromising 82 for 7, chasing 101 for victory. His batting on that day was bold and to the point, but he should never have been called upon in the first place. After all, he thought he'd already won the match with his second-innings figures of 8 for 39, Bangladesh's best in Test cricket. That was before their batting crumbled to 0 for 3 in the fourth innings, of course. Thereafter, it was a fist-fight to the finish.
Taijul Islam's dismissal on the final morning against England was possibly the most heartbreaking moment of a gripping contest - he'd battled so valiantly for 33 deliveries, to give his team renewed belief throughout his 25-run stand with Sabbir Rahman, but when he was sent on his way via a DRS referral, he sunk to his haunches for ten full seconds, unable to believe he'd fallen short of glory. In the aftermath of England's victory, there was some criticism of Sabbir for exposing his team-mate so often, but then again, there aren't many Bangladeshis who have genuine experience of being a Test hero. Two years earlier, against Zimbabwe at Dhaka, Taijul struck the winning runs in a similiarly excruciating finale, having joined Mushfiqur Rahim at an uncompromising 82 for 7, chasing 101 for victory. His batting on that day was bold and to the point, but he should never have been called upon in the first place. After all, he thought he'd already won the match with his second-innings figures of 8 for 39, Bangladesh's best in Test cricket. That was before their batting crumbled to 0 for 3 in the fourth innings, of course. Thereafter, it was a fist-fight to the finish.
Andrew Miller is UK editor of ESPNcricinfo. He tweets @miller_cricket