Shakib Al Hasan played a vital role in ensuring a 4-1 T20I series win for Bangladesh against Australia.
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Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan on Monday became the first player to score 1,000 runs and account for 100 dismissals in all formats of the game. Shakib accounted for the wicket of Australian cricketer Ashton Turner to record the unique milestone in the final T20I of the five-match series between the two nations. The all-rounder had previously registered this landmark in Test cricket and the 50-over format of the game. The 34-year-old is now the first spinner and second bowler overall after Lasith Malinga to pick 100 wickets in T20Is. Australia were bowled out for their lowest T20I score of 62 in the final match of the series, with Bangladesh emerging triumphant by a 4-1 margin.
While the Bangladesh cricketer achieved a lot of glorious milestones, the encounter further marked the end of a fine achievement. Shakib was dismissed LBW for the first time in his T20I career, 15 years after making his debut in the shortest format of the game.
“I am still enjoying my game. Thanks to my team mates, this achievement wouldn’t have been possible. The wicket was tough but we held our nerves. All in all, a very good series for us. To be honest, if you look at the last game, we scored 104 or 105 and got momentum towards the defense of the chase. It wasn’t easy for the batters in this series but the bowlers did well,” said the Bangladesh cricketer.
“We are trying to improve all our areas. Our fast bowlers have been improving really well. They have been bowling brilliantly. It has been a good combination of spin and fast bowling. Sometimes I do keep track of the records,” added Shakib.
The Bangladesh all-rounder has recently reaffirmed his status as one of modern cricket’s greatest cross-format all-rounders to earn an ICC Men’s Player of the Month nomination for July. Shakib scored 145 runs at 72.50 with a strike rate of 82.38 in three ODIs, with 96 being his highest score.
He accounted for eight wickets at 14.75 with an economy of 3.95. Shakib accumulated 37 runs at 18.50 with a strike rate of 160.86 in three T20Is. The 34-year-old picked three wickets at 28 with an economy rate of 7.00, with best figures of 1/24.
Shakib was crucial to Bangladesh’s victory in the one-off Test against Zimbabwe, picking five wickets. The hosts had enjoyed a strong start to their innings after Bangladesh were bowled out for 468. Takudzwanashe Kaitano and Milton Shumba stitched a partnership of 61 runs for the opening stand. It took a classical bit of spin bowling from Shakib to end the stand, with the all-rounder drawing an ill-advised sweep from Shumba with a flighted full delivery.
The 34-year-old struck again to remove Dion Myers, caught sweeping on 27. Shakib followed it up with a third man Timycen Maruma (0), dismissed playing the same shot on his way to figures of 4/82 as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 276.
The all-rounder further only took one wicket in Zimbabwe’s second innings, but it was an important one as he removed the stubborn Kaitano for 7 off 102 balls to help Bangladesh on their way to a 220-run win.
