Shoriful shows 'real hunger'

The game looked done and dusted, but Bangladesh pacer Shoriful Islam knows how to seize an opportunity. His six-wicket haul turned the third ODI against Australia in Mirpur yesterday into a far more gripping contest than it had any right to be.

Far from looking like an outsider waiting for a chance, Shoriful has consistently delivered whenever called upon. He did not feature in the first two matches, where Bangladesh had already sealed the series with back-to-back wins. But when the Tigers opted to rest express pacer Nahid Rana for the final ODI, Shoriful stepped in and bowled with intent, producing his first ODI five-wicket haul and nearly inspiring a series sweep.

It ultimately did not materialise, as Australia scraped through with a narrow one-wicket win -- their first such victory since 2014 -- but Shoriful ensured they had to work desperately for it.

He made an immediate impact, removing skipper Josh Inglis and number three Matt Renshaw in his very first over. It was all about disciplined lengths, and he struck again later by dismissing Marnus Labuschagne, breaking a crucial 64-run partnership with Cooper Connolly, who was in the midst of a fluent innings.

As the innings progressed, Shoriful returned in the death overs with the older ball and made it reverse. Maintaining tight lines under pressure, he picked up three more wickets and nearly pulled off an improbable finish for Bangladesh. Australia, needing nine runs to win with five wickets in hand and five overs remaining, suddenly found themselves under real pressure.

The turning point could have come if Tanzid Tamim had held onto a catch at point after Shoriful induced an edge from Adam Zampa. Had that chance been taken, Bangladesh might well have completed a 3-0 series sweep.

“The way Shoriful bowled with the new ball, in the middle overs, and during the last few overs, was nice to see…I'm really happy with how he bowled, and I hope he will continue this form,” stand-in skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto said at the post-match presentations.

Shanto also highlighted the healthy competition within Bangladesh’s pace unit, which has been in impressive form this year. With Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, and Nahid all among the leading wicket-takers in ODIs, the internal competition has raised standards across the board.

“I think that’s what we need as a bowling unit. There is a very healthy competition in the dressing room, which is why we got the result,” Shanto added.

Shoriful had earlier earned a recall during the New Zealand series in April after missing the Pakistan ODIs in March, where he also delivered steady performances. Against one of the world’s strongest sides, he produced something even more special this time, finishing with a career-best six for 48.

“A match like this is very difficult for a player who is in and out of the side, yet he performed. I think our entire bowling unit has a real hunger,” said skipper Mehidy Miraz at the post-match press conference.

Bangladesh may still be searching for their ideal bowling combination, but performances like Shoriful’s make selection harder in the best possible way -- and serve as a reminder that at this level, opportunity belongs to those who take it.