On that note it's a wrap from us. It's onwards and upwards for a rejuvenated Bangladesh, but a lot of soul searching for Pakistan. On behalf of Fidel, Danyal, Isam, and the rest of the team, this is Madushka signing out!
Najmul Hossain Shanto: "[shift in mindset?] Credit goes to all the players, they have been working really hard. As you said, we changed something, we tried to build our team. And if you look at world cricket, if you want to build something you have to change. I hope we will continue how we play. All the credit goes to the curator and the players. [most satisfying aspect?] Preparations wise we have been outstanding and that helps with these sort of conditions. Our fast bowlers did a great job in hot conditions, on a flat wicket. That is something we always wanted to improve. And in the batting sometimes we lost too many wickets, but nowadays we have brilliants partnerships. Our tailenders also contribute a lot. Those are the things we wanted to improve and I hope we continue. [Away series ?] That is more important, to play away series. Last cycle we had been playing some good cricket away, but this year we have some more challenging tours. That is a new experience for us to prepare ourselves, but if we continue to play good cricket with our fast bowlers and spinners, we can play some cricket over there as well."
Player of the Series goes to Mushfiqur Rahim for his 253 runs in the series: "[Special?] It really means a lot, the boys really deserve it. The way they have been playing the last 2-3 years, especially in the Test format. [century was the difference?] To be honest, Litton's century in the first innings was outstanding and that kept us in the game. The morale in the dressing room was really high and we wanted to play for him as well. I thought the wicket were pretty good to bat on, so our initial plan was to get at least 400 or even 450-plus because I knew it wasn't going to be that typical day five wicket. Bowlers really stuck to their basics and all credit to them. [motivation?] To be honest, I'm alive and playing for my country. If someone wants to play for their country, it doesn't happen easily. So you have to work hard and you have deserve something, and you have to put the work in the middle. I am enjoying my life, and thanks to God."
Player of the Match goes to Litton Das: [his 100?] The last two innings I didn't get a score, so when I got to the wicket I had no pressure. But suddenly a couple of wickets happened and I was unsure what to do. I spoke to captain, and he said to attack. So I just tried to back my strengths. After hitting two boundaries, I felt it's Test cricket and I should take my time. I thought that with rain around, if I just bat 10-15 overs it would be a different ball game. [unselfish batting?] Yes, but if I [didn't refuse the singles] probably my score would be fifty. I was maintaining myself and play more of the ball. Whenever they're [the tail ] safe I am also safe. Probably [the best 100 of my career]. Batting with the tail is not easy, all the fielders are outside. Day one wicket wasn't easy and the outfield was slow."
Shan Masood: "[Impressions of the match?] A lot of mistakes, and when you make 360 runs in the 4th innings of the game you kinda expect to be on the right side of it, but I think in the three innings we had quite a lot to reflect on. [Lead of 46 hurt?] When they were 116 for 6 the last four wickets ended up scoring a lot of runs, and even when we got to 142 for 4 the set batters in Test cricket have to go big. There were things we didn't do well enough in the first three innings and that's why the effort on the fourth and fifth day didn't really materialise into a win. [changes moving forward?] Test cricket you're going to be punished with any mistake you make, it's unforgiving and Test cricket is always played by the best of the best. You're not going to get any easy games, you have to grind results out, and that's what you have to do as a side. We've put ourselves into position - I can only count a couple of Tests where we've been completely outplayed - but in every other Test we've been in positions where we didn't finish well."
Time for the post-match presentation...
Didar Bhuiyan : "What a test match it has turned into! Kudos to both the teams and officials. Specially the pitch curator. A great job indeed. He is my Man of the Match along with Taijul."
Rashed Almazi: "Have Bangladesh finally found the magic potion of Test Cricket?" --- Not sure there's a magic potion as such, but in their arsenal of seamers, allround spinners in Taijul and Miraz, and a steadily more consistent batting lineup, they certainly have the ingredients to trouble a lot of sides.
Ahsan Ali: "Batters settled, break comes and open flood gates of wickets, such has been the story of Pakistan' innings both tests"
11.22am Handshakes all around, as Bangladesh and their fans take in a historic series win against Pakistan. It's a first-ever clean sweep at home against these opponents, and one that was a consummate team performance - especially from being 116 for 6 in the first innings. Bangladesh came out this morning needing three wickets, but for most of the first hour things really weren't going according to plan. Both Rizwan and Sajid were scoring freely, and the target was steadily becoming shorter. But Shanto kept smartly rotating his options in the faith that one of them would deliver the breakthrough, and in the end it was Taijul that came to the fore - as he so often does. Perhaps an injury break courtesy Mehidy Hasan Miraz played a role in breaking the Pakistan batters' focus, but straight after that break Taijul removed Sajid. And from then on it was quick work.
Khurram Shahzad c Tanzid Hasan b Taijul Islam 0 (12m 6b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0
Maz: "I don't think Taijul is given enough cricket in world cricket for his performances with the bowl and his contributions with the bat. He is a highly under-rated player who certainly demands far more recognition than he gets!"
END OF OVER:97 | (wicket maiden) | PAK: 358/9
- Mohammad Abbas0 (5b)
- Khurram Shahzad0 (4b)
- Shoriful Islam12-4-29-1
- Taijul Islam34-4-120-5
Nitin: "Alas Mehndi's contribution in last two wickets will be forgotten " --- A touch of the Rizwans one might say.
Salman Rahman: "Taijul deserves man of the match for both his batting in both innings and bowling. Breaking partnership when needed yesterday and today taking hopes away from Pakistan"
Abbas is the new batter
Salman Rahman: "Taijul Islam has to be the man of the match. His partnership with Litton in the first innings and with Mushfiqur in the second innings allowed them both to score and take Bangladesh to a decent total. And now with the ball breaking the partnership today and yesterday that allowed for all doors to open and close this out. "
Ahmed: "I was reading Cricinfo comment since Rizwan Salman Partnership and as soon as I stopped reading two wickets fell and this morning I was reading commentary only everything was fine and then I decided to turn on the tv........alas !!!" --- Don't beat yourself up Ahmed.
Drinks called on the field now, and Bangladesh will be savouring every drop you imagine.
Mohammad Rizwan c Mehidy Hasan Miraz b Shoriful Islam 94 (246m 166b 10x4 0x6) SR: 56.62
Shoriful into the attack
Nitish: "Excellent advert for test cricket "
END OF OVER:96 | (wicket maiden) | PAK: 358/8
- Khurram Shahzad0 (4b)
- Mohammad Rizwan94 (165b)
- Taijul Islam34-4-120-5
- Nahid Rana18-3-71-2
Silly point comes in
Has the door been wedged open? Here's Shahzad.
