CARDIFF, 19 June 2005 — Bangladesh produced arguably the biggest One-Day International shock in history yesterday as they beat Australia’s world champions by five wickets in their triangular series match.
In reply to Australia’s 249 for five, Mohammad Ashraful scored a run-a-ball century, only the second ever scored in one-dayers by a Bangladeshi, as his side won with four balls to spare. Ashraful holed out next ball, in the deep off Jason Gillespie, after reaching three figures with 23 still needed off the last three overs.
A couple of fortunate fours made it 13 required off the final 12 balls and tailender Mohammad Rafique then sliced Glenn McGrath, the world’s premier fast bowler, for a four past point.
Seven were needed off the final over from Gillespie only for Aftab Ahmed to launch the first ball for six over long on before the pair scampered a run off the next delivery to spark a pitch invasion at a half-full ground.
Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar said: “I am the happiest man in the world today. This win can take us a long way.”
Australia, who surprisingly opted to bat on a pitch offering early seam movement against the lowest-ranked one-day side in the International Cricket Council table, had never looked settled after losing vice captain Adam Gilchrist off the second ball of the match and his skipper Ricky Ponting for a single. Their total sill looked enough until Ashraful and captain Bashar, who made 47, put on 130 in 22 overs for the fourth wicket to produce a grandstand finish.
Before the start Australia had been ranked at 100-1 ON to beat Bangladesh, who England had thrashed by 10 wickets in the opening one-dayer of the tournament on Thursday.
Nobody, however, had told Ashraful or Bashar, who came together at 72 for three and did not get parted until the score had reached 202. When McGrath was brought back to deal with them, Ashraful bladed him over extra over before disrespectfully marching down the wicket and repeating the shot to reach a 58-ball half-century including seven fours.
As the pressure grew, so the Australian fielding fragmented. Gillespie allowing an Ashraful pull off Michael Kasprowicz to pass straight through his hands and go for four.
With 10 overs remaining, Bangladesh were on 177 for three, needing 73 to win. A dreadful mix-up, however, led to Bashar being run out but his side still created history.
England, who take on Australia today, must have been drooling in front of their television screens. Australia, having lost an inaugural Twenty20 match against England and also gone down to Somerset in a one-day thrash, looked fallible from the outset.
Indeed, at nine for two in the sixth over they appeared positively sickly.
Perhaps Ponting had been unsettled by the confusion surrounding the announcement of his team, which initially included all rounder Andrew Symonds. The team then said he was out injured. Then he was out with ‘flu. Then, it transpired, he was facing an investigation for breaching team rules. Gilchrist soon joined him in the pavilion after Gilchrist fell lbw to a nip-backer from Mashrafe Mortaza.
Ponting then wafted one-legged across the line and went in the same way to seamer Tapash Baisya.
Nor did Matthew Hayden look in focus. He launched Baisya for a straight six and then flat-batted the next ball through mid-off, but for the most part he accumulated rather than dismantled. He departed for 37, dragging Nazmul Hossain into his stumps to make it 57 for three. Australia, however, gradually regained their poise.
Damien Martyn (77) and Clarke (54) milked easy singles during the middle overs, putting on 108. Mike Hussey (31 not out off 21 balls) and Simon Katich (36 not out off 23) added the gloss as 93 came off the last 10 overs. Baisya took three for 69. Bangladesh had not beaten Australia in six previous one-day meetings. They had only beaten two of the leading test sides before, Pakistan and India, in 107 games.
