Teenager Mehedi Hasan's off-spin destroys England as Tigers triumph by 108 runs for maiden Test glory over England inside three days!
Man of the match Mehedi Hasan (right) celebrates with teammates after winning the second Test against England in Dhaka yesterday. Pic/AFP
Man of the match Mehedi Hasan (right) celebrates with teammates after winning the second Test against England in Dhaka yesterday. Pic/AFP
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Dhaka: Mehedi Hasan ruthlessly exploited England's top-order deficiencies against spin to inspire Bangladesh to the most famous Test victory in their history. The teenager made a mockery of his inexperience to run through England's fragile top order, taking five wickets as the tourists dramatically collapsed from 100 without loss to 139 for six after tea in an ultimately fruitless pursuit of 273.
Shakib Al Hasan took four wickets before Mehedi fittingly wrapped up proceedings as Bangladesh won by 108 runs inside three days in Dhaka for just their eighth Test success in 95 matches and first over England in 10 attempts. A pulsating, see-saw series therefore finished all-square with one win apiece - and England will now move on to a five-Test series against India with serious question marks over their ability to play in subcontinent conditions.
Uncomfortable against spin
Several of their batsmen have looked ill-at-ease against the turning ball, most notably Gary Ballance, who was out for his fourth consecutive single-figure score as England were all out for 164, losing all 10 wickets inside a session.
Mehedi started the carnage with the first ball after tea following Alastair Cook and Ben Duckett's century stand during the afternoon session, which had given England hope of chasing down their highest successful fourth innings total in Asia.
Duckett had used the reverse sweep to excellent effect to reach a deserved maiden Test fifty but he was castled by one that kept low before Joe Root was pinned in front by Shakib in the next over.
Cook had been strong with more orthodox sweeps behind square and he overturned being given out off an lbw decision to reach his fifty before losing Ballance, who top-edged to mid-off, and then Moeen Ali as he was pinned in front four balls later.
Mehedi's 12 in the Test
Mehedi had another five-for when Jonny Bairstow's inside edge looped to slip and, although Ben Stokes provided a couple of lusty blows, he was bowled by Shakib, who gave a salute reminiscent of the one the Durham all-rounder received from West Indies batsman Marlon Samuels last year.
It was the start of three wickets in four balls as Shakib accounted for Adil Rashid and Zafar Ansari before Mehedi had Steven Finn trapped in front to start jubilant celebrations from Bangladesh.
Forgettable nine losses
Their only previous victories had come twice against an under-strength West Indies and five times over Zimbabwe, while they had lost all nine previous Tests against England, so this achievement is without doubt their finest hour.
They had earlier lost six for 58, following on from their collapse of nine for 49 in the first innings, as they were all out for 296 — although their total proved more than enough. England had proved wasteful in the field on the third morning, with four drops of varying degrees of difficulty.
Bangladesh's Test victories
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