Bangladesh all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz is optimistic that his team can follow up their famous nine-wicket win over Australia in Darwin and complete a rare 2-0 series win. Bangladesh made one of their best-ever Test match performances, with Hasan Mahmud snatching nine wickets, Tanzid Hasan hitting a century on his Test debut, and Miraz contributing with a splendid all-round performance.

The second Test match win came after an astonishing first, when Miraz scored a well-placed 65 off 154 deliveries, helping Bangladesh post a big total of 228 and then following it with a five-wicket haul in Australia's second innings, which saw the hosts scoring 284.

With only 57 runs to chase, Bangladesh made a nine-wicket victory.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz Wants Bangladesh to Maintain Winning Momentum

With the second and final Test beginning in Mackay on August 22, Bangladesh are poised to complete an improbable 2-0 series win. Miraz was realistic about the prospect but said the team would stick to its game plan.

“Of course we are thinking that way, and we want to stay focused on the approach we have taken,” he said. As quoted by the ICC,

“Since we won the first match, an even bigger challenge awaits us.

But winning a Test match is never easy. Right now, we just want to carry this momentum forward, and we will plan for the next match later.”

Bangladesh's players got crucial performances from several key players in the opening Test. Player of the Match Hasan Mahmud, who took six wickets in Australia's first innings and followed that up with a match-winning century. Tanzid also chipped in with a vital century in a rain-affected match.

Meanwhile, Miraz backed his team's efforts by scoring a few crucial runs and taking some important scalps.

Bangladesh's emphatic win came after losing heavily to a Cricket Australia XI in their only previous match. They were bowled out for 54 in their second innings and were clearly rattled by the debacle. However, that didn't last long as Bangladesh's management helped the team restore its confidence.

“While I was struggling myself, our team manager, Nafis Iqbal, gave me lots of advice on how to tackle the conditions,” said Miraz.

He also praised the intervention of team management in rebuilding the morale of the squad after the tour match fiasco.

“We lost the first match (to CA XI), and Mushtaq Ahmed, our team manager, came to each of our players and said, 'Have faith.

If you believe, winning is possible, and faith can take you a long way.' From these little things, we started believing, and you can see the results today.”

Bangladesh will head to Mackay for the second Test, which begins on August 22. A win there will see them post a 2-0 series win. It will also propel them to first in the World Test Championship as they move past Australia and claim third place. Furthermore, it will give them a fantastic opportunity to reach the World Test Championship final.

Series Schedule

First Test: Bangladesh won by nine wickets
Second Test: August 22-26, Mackay