Mehedi dream comes true

On a gloomy afternoon six years ago, a 12-year-old boy, sitting in the president’s box of the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, watched Alastair Cook’s aggressive batting destroy Bangladesh’s hope to earn a credible draw. Cook remained not out on 109 and, aided by Kevin Pietersen’s unbeaten 74, chased down Bangladesh’s target of 209 in just two sessions. That was England’s highest chase in Asia and remains the highest chase by any team in the fourth innings at the stadium.
The boy, in utter frustration, imagined himself bowling to Cook every time he went after the hapless Bangladeshi bowlers. Six years later, the boy—Mehedi Hasan Miraj—got his opportunity to bowl to Cook. Defying the unpredictable pitch, Mehedi ensured that history did not repeat itself. He pinned down Cook’s back-foot with a delivery that turned sharply; the England captain could only lift the bat to send the ball straight to the silly point. Cook had upheld England’s chances so far by playing with utmost patience. His dismissal prepared the stage for a historic victory by Bangladesh.  
The boy’s daring dream of six years finally came true. Mehedi’s six for 77 in the second innings ensured that England was all out for 164, helping Bangladesh seal a landmark 108-run victory.
Mehedi also earned the distinction of breaking a 139-year old record of taking the highest wicket in two debut Test series. He claimed 19 wickets breaking the previous record of John James Ferris of Australia who took 18 wickets against England.
In 2010, Mehedi won the man of the tournament award from the then ICC president, David Morgan, for his powerhouse performance at the Under-14 level. Recently, in an interview with The Independent, he said that was the day he first dreamed of making debut against England in a Test match.
It took just six years for the dream to materialise and he has never looked back. He made his debut at a Test in Chittagong, making it memorable with six for 82, but Bangladesh’s wayward batting cost the team a 22-run defeat despite coming so close. Mehedi never let Bangladesh slip in the second test. His match figures of 12 for 159—the best figures by a Bangladeshi bowler—ensured the dream victory that Bangladesh badly needed. He surpassed left-arm spinner Enamul Haque Junior’s 12 for 200 against Zimbabwe. It is Bangladesh’s first victory against a major team, not considering Zimbabwe and West Indies.
Mehedi ended the series with 19 wickets, the highest by a Bangladeshi bowler in a series. Enamul Haque Junior had earlier claimed 18 wickets against Zimbabwe in a two-match Test series in 2005.
The boy, who turned 19 five days ago, is the sixth bowler in the history of the game to claim three five or more wickets-haul in his first two Tests. “Determination was the key,” he said after the match. “I never gave up hope. I knew that once we make a breakthrough, we could apply pressure on them.”
After three low scores, the opening partnership between Cook and Ben Duckett finally got into groove and raised the chances of crossing the record of the highest chase at this stadium.
They remained unscathed, reaching 100 for no loss before the tea break. Even die-hard Bangladesh fans did not dare to expect a victory at that moment. But Mehedi went ahead and made it possible.
With the very first ball of the final session, he dismissed Duckett with a low delivery. “But the biggest wicket was Cook’s, as he was well-set and could snatch the match away from us,” he said.
Incidentally, Cook was his 10th haul in the match. “His dismissal tilted the match towards us. I am happy to fulfil my dream from six years ago,” Mehedi concluded with quiet dignity.

 

Mehedi dream comes true

On a gloomy afternoon six years ago, a 12-year-old boy, sitting in the presidents box of the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, watched Alastair Cooks aggressive batting destroy Bangladeshs hope to earn a credible draw. Cook remained not out on 109 and, aided by Kevin Pietersens unbeaten 74, chased down Bangladeshs target of 209 in just two sessions. That was Englands highest chase in Asia and remains the highest chase by any team in the fourth innings at the stadium. The boy, in utter frustration, imagined himself bowling to Cook every time he went after the hapless Bangladeshi bowlers. Six years later, the boyMehedi Hasan Mirajgot his opportunity to bowl to Cook. Defying the unpredictable pitch, Mehedi ensured that history did not repeat itself. He pinned down Cooks back-foot with a delivery that turned sharply; the England captain could only lift the bat to send the ball straight to the silly point. Cook had upheld Englands chances so far by playing with utmost patience. His dismissal prepared the stage for a historic victory by Bangladesh. The boys daring dream of six years finally came true. Mehedis six for 77 in the second innings ensured that England was all out for 164, helping Bangladesh seal a landmark 108-run victory. Mehedi also earned the distinction of breaking a 139-year old record of taking the highest wicket in two debut Test series. He claimed 19 wickets breaking the previous record of John James Ferris of Australia who took 18 wickets against England. In 2010, Mehedi won the man of the tournament award from the then ICC president, David Morgan, for his powerhouse performance at the Under-14 level. Recently, in an interview with The Independent, he said that was the day he first dreamed of making debut against England in a Test match. It took just six years for the dream to materialise and he has never looked back. He made his debut at a Test in Chittagong, making it memorable with six for 82, but Bangladeshs wayward batting cost the team a 22-run defeat despite coming so close. Mehedi never let Bangladesh slip in the second test. His match figures of 12 for 159the best figures by a Bangladeshi bowlerensured the dream victory that Bangladesh badly needed. He surpassed left-arm spinner Enamul Haque Juniors 12 for 200 against Zimbabwe. It is Bangladeshs first victory against a major team, not considering Zimbabwe and West Indies. Mehedi ended the series with 19 wickets, the highest by a Bangladeshi bowler in a series. Enamul Haque Junior had earlier claimed 18 wickets against Zimbabwe in a two-match Test series in 2005. The boy, who turned 19 five days ago, is the sixth bowler in the history of the game to claim three five or more wickets-haul in his first two Tests. Determination was the key, he said after the match. I never gave up hope. I knew that once we make a breakthrough, we could apply pressure on them. After three low scores, the opening partnership between Cook and Ben Duckett finally got into groove and raised the chances of crossing the record of the highest chase at this stadium. They remained unscathed, reaching 100 for no loss before the tea break. Even die-hard Bangladesh fans did not dare to expect a victory at that moment. But Mehedi went ahead and made it possible. With the very first ball of the final session, he dismissed Duckett with a low delivery. But the biggest wicket was Cooks, as he was well-set and could snatch the match away from us, he said. Incidentally, Cook was his 10th haul in the match. His dismissal tilted the match towards us. I am happy to fulfil my dream from six years ago, Mehedi concluded with quiet dignity.