Bangladesh stormed to a comprehensive victory against the West Indies – by an innings and 184 runs – in the second and final Test of the series in Dhaka to sweep it 2-0.
Shakib Al Hasan, the Bangladesh skipper, was pleased with his side’s dominant display through the series and felt that the achievement – their first sweep at home against a higher-ranked opposition – held a special place.
“We have played more than 100 Tests, but for the first time, we did something like this. We did not whitewash any team, who were higher in rank, at home. So this series has given us a lot,” Shakib said.
Bangladesh sweep the Test series 2-0, winning by an innings & 184 runs!
Shimron Hetmyer smashed nine sixes in his 93 off 92 balls, but that was the only resistance from the Windies, who folded for 213 after following on. #BANvWI SCORECARD, UPDATES ⬇️https://t.co/mJizOuMsqv pic.twitter.com/CC1j4YVwPd
— ICC (@ICC) December 2, 2018
“To be honest I was very demanding (of the players) because I wanted to achieve something badly. I am happy that team management and players also believed we could do it.”
[breakout id=”1″][/breakout]
This is not the first time Bangladesh have had a memorable series victory over the West Indies. Back in 2009, they travelled to the Caribbean Islands and pulled off a 2-0 sweep against the hosts in the Test series, though it was a severely depleted opposition line-up, led by the little-known Floyd Reifer, and boasting of no prominent players apart from Darren Sammy, Kemar Roach and Tino Best.
Mehidy Hasan's 12/117 were the best match figures ever taken by a Bangladeshi bowler 👏
Hasan, who only recently turned 21, is already the fourth leading wicket-taker for Bangladesh in Test cricket. pic.twitter.com/WMckMLhu7j
— ICC (@ICC) December 2, 2018
“I think that [2009 win] was the start and this is the testament that we are on the right track. That series was a turning point in our cricket as we started to believe that we can win. But this one is naturally special,” added Shakib.
[breakout id=”0″][/breakout]
On the other side, Kraigg Brathwaite pointed to his team’s batting failures as the reason for the loss, not letting even himself off the hook.
“It was very disappointing. Our bowlers did a good job but the batting let us down,” said Brathwaite, who was leading the team in the injury-enforced absence of Jason Holder.
Mehidy Hasan was quick to praise the Bangladeshi batsmen after his record-breaking exploits with the ball in his country's innings victory over the Windies.
MORE FROM MEHIDY👇https://t.co/A3bmI6knlE pic.twitter.com/El2CKVkr1f
— ICC (@ICC) December 2, 2018
“Some of the shots weren’t the best. Most of the games we were 30-odd for three. It put the batting order under a lot of pressure. It wasn’t good for us at all.
“I didn’t have a good series in India so I was looking to lead the batting. But it didn’t happen. I have to keep strong and try to lead the batting in the next series. Test cricket is a mental game. Five-hundred on the board with the ball spinning on the first day. We could have had some talks. I played outside the line of a straight ball.”
