Tigers’ maiden victories over every team

After Saturday’s five-run win over England in their 13th attempt, Bangladesh have completed a cycle of defeating all Test-playing nations in one-day cricket. Here’s a quick look at the Tigers’ maiden victories over every team, starting from May 31, 1999.
vs Pakistan, Northampton, 1999
In their first World Cup, Bangladesh impressed with a win over Scotland, but had struggled otherwise. When they turned up for their last match against Pakistan, the form team of the tournament, it was supposed to be a stroll — for Pakistan.
But some gutsy batting from opener Shahriar Hossain and Akram Khan set up a modest total, which was mightily defended by a bowling attack spearheaded by Khaled Mahmud. The skiddy medium-pace rocked Pakistan and when Khaled Mashud whipped off the bails to run out Saqlain Mushtaq, it sparked off wild celebrations that propelled Bangladesh into the elite of world cricket.
vs Zimbabwe, Harare, 2004
Five years later, Bangladesh won again. That it took so long wasn’t surprising at that stage when a one-day match involving the Tigers was decided in the first ten overs and a Test match lasted little more than three days.
The win was a sort of resuscitation for the Tigers as they won in their 13th attempt against Zimbabwe.
vs India, Dhaka, 2004
This was the win that came on the occasion of Bangladesh’s 100th ODI. The day before Asia’s deadly Tsunami was also the day Mashrafe Bin Mortaza arrived finally after three years of career-threatening injuries.
The Tigers’ batting remained modest but the Indians slipped a gear in the second one-dayer of the series. Mashrafe blasted a quickfire 31 before taking out Virender Sehwag in the first over. His opening spell and some telling late yorkers from Khaled Mahmud made sure the Tigers beat India in the two sides’ 13th ODI.
vs Australia, Cardiff, 2005
Half a year later, Bangladesh won their most famous match, courtesy Mohammad Ashraful. The little dynamite was as unpredictable then as he was now and had been struggling to put bat to ball in England.
But after Mashrafe and Rafique bowled their hearts out to keep the Aussies to 249, Ashraful tore into the best bowling attack at the time. In his 101-ball innings, Ashraful reached his first one-day century. But his fall in the 48th over could have derailed the Tigers but a mighty hoick from Aftab Ahmed in the first ball of the last over and then a scampered single made sure the worst team in the world beat the best in the world and derailed their Ashes campaign.
vs Sri Lanka, Bogra, 2006
The Lankans have been a deep thorn for the Tigers’ and it was expected that every one-day and Test against the island nation was a given defeat.
The win also continued the trend of Rafique bowling well enough to fashion a win.
Ashraful starred with a fifty, but so did Javed Omar with a steady 40 at the top of the order.
vs South Africa, Trinidad, 2007
This was in the middle of a good World Cup for Bangladesh as had already defeated India and Bermuda to move into the Super Eights stage.
A masterful 87 from Ashraful made sure they posted a fighting 251. Bear in mind, this was a great effort against a disciplined bowling attack.
It inspired their bowling and fielding. The three-man left-arm spin attack ensured South Africa were suffocated.
vs New Zealand, Dhaka, 2008
The backdrop was bizarre. Fifteen players had defected to the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) and within weeks, the Tigers were up against the Black Caps.
And then they won!
Junaed Siddiqui, one of the new boys, struck an invaluable 87. Mashrafe again starred with the ball, picking up four wickets as Bangladesh defeated New Zealand in their 12th try.
vs West Indies, Dominica, 2009
It took Bangladesh 14 one-dayers to beat West Indies and when they did, they won the series 3-0 against a completely understrength side.
Abdur Razzak, opening the bowling, picked up four wickets after the Tigers weathered a green Kemar Roach to score 246.
Ashraful and Shakib struck half-centuries while Mahmudullah Riyad made a rapid 42 in the end.

Courtesy of The Daily Star