To enforce a follow-on after more than 100 Tests in 18 years is special: Shakib Al Hasan
Bangladesh avenged their away first Test defeat to the Windies this after they were bowled out for 43 in the first Test, the lowest Test total since 1974.
Bangladesh avenged their away first Test defeat against the Windies this after they were bowled out for 43 in the first Test, the lowest Test total since 1974. @ AFP
Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan lauded his side after the hosts romped home to a thumping innings and 184-run win against West Indies to seal the second Test inside three days at the Shere Bangla Stadium in Dhaka on Sunday.
Resuming their overnight score at a lowly 75/5, the visitors lost five quick wickets and were bowled out for 111 in their first essay with Shakib and Mehidy Hasan Miraz sharing 10 wickets. Following on, the Windies were wrapped up for 213 before tea on the third day. Mehidy claimed 5/59, while Taijul Islam returned with figures of 3/40.
"This is the first time we enforced the follow-on in more than 100 Tests in 18 years, which is definitely something special," Shakib, who has been involved in ten of Bangladesh's 38 innings defeats, was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo on Sunday.
"We haven't done this against smaller teams, so to do it against a higher-ranked side is an achievement. We obviously had a lot to prove after losing to them in that manner [in July]. I think we have done that at least at home.
"I would thank my team-mates and the coaching staff, for believing that it was possible. I was quite demanding of my players in this series. I wanted a lot from them. I think everyone contributed in their own way, but I saw everyone really wanting to contribute to the win."
Bangladesh avenged their away defeat against the Windies this year after they were bowled out for 43 in the first Test, the lowest Test total since 1974. "We never expected such a performance in the West Indies," he said.
"We held discussions after the Test series defeat there, and then came back strongly in the ODIs and T20Is. Since we didn't do well in the Tests [there], we had this opportunity to do well at home. We wanted people to at least understand that it was a performance in their home conditions, and see that we could do the same in our home conditions."
Shakib heaped praise on his batsmen for utilising the conditions on offer in the first two days of this Test. Mahmudullah scored his third Test hundred, while debutant Shadman Islam, Liton Das and Shakib registered fifties.
"Our batsmen have done well on good wickets," Shakib said.
"Both sides [Bangladesh and Sri Lanka] made plenty of runs in the Chittagong Test in January. Afterwards, we have played mostly on tough wickets, at home and in the West Indies. Even the opposing side didn't reach 500. It is not right to blame the batsmen all the time.
"In this game, they believed in the plan put in front of them. We no longer prepare flat wickets on which we are expected to score 500 and draw the game. We try to win every game, and this changed mindset has taken us to a better place as cricketers."
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