‘It was a unified effort by us as a bowling unit’

Bangladesh all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz is confident that a lead of over 300 runs will be enough for them to put up a real challenge against Australia as he feels that the track will get more difficult with each passing day in Dhaka. Bangladesh carried on the momentum and kept the pressure on the second day at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, earning an overall lead of 88 runs to give the hosts a real prospect of earning their maiden Test win against Australia, Cricbuzz reported.

Bangladesh picked up a first-innings lead of 43 runs after bundling out Australia for 217 on the back of some superb display of spin bowling and Mehidy believes it can very well be true for the second innings as well. "Anything will be competitive on this track," he said on Monday (August 28). "I think a lead of over 300 runs will be good for us to challenge them. We scored 260 runs but managed to restrict them under it. We still got a few batsmen and if they can put on a good show we are confident to put up a good fight against them," he asserted.

Miraz added that the wicket is difficult though it is not totally unplayable, and if the batsman can apply themselves both with bat and ball, they very well have a game on hand. "I don't think it is a very tricky wicket," he said. "Though at times, it becomes difficult, like when the ball makes unusual turns. When the ball is bowled in the right areas, sometimes it turns and sometimes it goes straight. You need to be cautious when you are batting. I am sure we can handle that as we have some quality batsmen in our team."

He said that he is optimistic about their chances of pulling off a win considering their bowlers continued to bowl in the right areas to make life difficult for the Australians."I think our bowlers really bowled well and in partnerships," Mehidy said. "No matter in what manner the wicket behaves, unless you can bowl in the right areas it is difficult to earn success. I think we managed to do that and it was due to that we are in this position.

"It was a unified effort by us as a bowling unit. While Shakib bhai bowled exceptionally, there was little contribution by me along with Taijul and Mustafiz. Though he did not get any wicket still he managed to restrict the flow of runs," he said, before adding that he felt fortunate to play alongside Shakib al Hasan, the premium all-rounder, who added another feather to his illustrated cap by now having a five-wicket haul against every Test-playing nation.

Shakib joined the elite club of Muttiah Muralitharan, Rangana Herath and Dale Steyn, who are the only ones to have taken five or more wickets in an innings against every Test-playing nation.

"You cannot finish talking about him as he is reaching one milestone after another. It's a great honor to play alongside him as he shares his experience with us on his way to reach such heights."