Skipper Habibul Bashar had just finished his post match interview and was waiting arms outstretched to greet the travelling journalists. One after another, the elated players and officials were coming out of the dressing room and there were hugs and congratulations all around. No one has ever seen this mood after a Tigers' Test match.

"I'm ecstatic. The feeling is wonderful. In the past we had drawn Test matches mainly because of rain to be fair. But this was a game we dominated. But it could have been even better had we not dropped six catches and lost those wickets on the fourth day. Still, overall I'm very happy because whenever we needed runs, someone was there to get them for us. It was a total team effort. This is something I had always wanted," said Bashar who starred in the first innings with strokeful 113.

"We were expecting a lead of 80-100 but what happened today was beyond my expectation. I had personally talked with the guys yesterday evening and today morning and I think we have more feelings for the team now and we believe in ourselves more. We were never short of commitment and the professionalism was there too. What we probably lacked was self-belief," added the captain.

Bashar was asked whether he had refrained from declaring earlier to give Khaled Mashud the chance to get a hundred.

"On this pitch you can't get a team out in 50-60 overs. Had we not lost six wickets yesterday and had a few more runs on the board, we might have given it a thought to declare earlier. But as that was not the case, I think it was only right to give Mashud the opportunity to get to three figures which he so deserves.

"Mashud saved the match for us and (Mohammad) Rafique was unbelievable."

Bashar said he would remember the moment of declaration, the first by a Bangladeshi captain in the country's 29 Tests, forever.

"I wish somebody would've taken a photo when I called the batsmen in. Can't describe the feeling. It had been the case of watching opposing captains declaring and here was I doing it for the first time. I don't know what others think but I firmly believe that now we are a team which has the ability to declare innings."

Amidst all the euphoria, Bashar was remembering coach Dav Whatmore, who had to leave in the middle of the Test to attend the funeral of his brother-in-law in Melbourne.

"He was naturally very upset as someone very close in the family had died. Last night we made a promise to play for Dav so that he doesn't feel bad at all for leaving us in the middle of the series. He feels too much for the team."

Team physio John Gloster informed that Whatmore had e-mailed during a stopover in Singapore on way to Australia and wasn't happy with what happened on Day Four.

"He's just about landing in Melbourne now I suppose. He would be so proud when he gets the news," said Gloster.

Bashar was his witty best when someone asked him about the possible strategy for the second Test in Jamaica.

"Jamaica is far away maan. I'm not thinking about Jamaica tonight."

Mashud revealed he played mind games with the West Indian fielders.

"I always keep myself calm in the middle by talking and cracking a joke or two with the opposing fielders. The West Indies players also get easy with me knowing me. That worked in my favour.

"As for the hundred, I just told myself that I had a job to do and was more focused on seeing the team to safety."