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But when the totals are within the bracket of 300, one cannot disagree the importance of even a 20-odd. With the ball, Shakib was world-class, bagging five wickets in each innings, but the rest of the team’s bowler had to take the other 10. Considering this fact, left-arm spinner Taijul Islam should be leading the chart. Taijul is hardly a star compared to his colleagues in the national dressing room. The 25-year old is hardly approached by the general public when he is walking on the road. He is often left unrecognised by the majority.
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But on Wednesday, this man hailing from Natore stood up to the occasion when the team needed it the most. The game resumed on day four with Australia in need of another 156 while Bangladesh required eight wickets for victory. Shakib led from the front to ensure a timely strike upon the Australia batsmen while Taijul provided valuable support, picking up wickets from the other end. The left-arm spinner took one in the first innings and three crucial scalps in the second to reach half-century of Test wickets. His Test wickets tally now stands at 52.
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“Honestly we thought it was a tough job. They have world class batsmen. The wicket had changed as it was day four. We were expecting something in favour of us as scoring 150 will not be easy. We were looking for a breakthrough which Shakib bhai gave after dismissing [David] Warner. This meant the rest of us bowlers had to sustain the pressure on them (Australia). Shakib bhai was taking wickets from one end, which boosted the rest of us to pick up some wickets too,” Taijul told the media on Thursday. “They were putting up partnerships and scoring runs at every opportunity. So Shakib bhai was tipping us so that we can have them in control. After I bowled my first four balls in the last over, Shakib bhai came to me and said there might be a chance, if I bowl round the wicket and it worked,” informed Taijul, alluding to the dismissal of No 11 batsman Josh Hazlewood. The Aussies will travel to Chittagong today for the second Test, starting on Monday at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. The Tigers meanwhile, will be travelling in patches after staying back in Dhaka an extra few days to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha with their family.