When Bangladesh’ Enamul haque (jr) created a unique record in Tests: A ‘ten-wicket’ haul is not something that a bowler gets to achieve in every other match. But when a bowler achieves this landmark, his performance is considered as something ‘very special.’
The youngest player to have achieved this landmark has been the left-arm spinner, Enamul Haque (Jr) of Bangladesh. He performed this feat in the second Test match of the two-Test series against Zimbabwe, played between 14th and 18th January, 2005, at Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka.
Zimbabwe led by their wicket-keeper, Tatenda Taibu, won the toss and elected to bat.
They started off reasonably well with Stuart Matsikenyeri and Barney Rogers. The duo put on 65 runs partnership for the first wicket, when Enamul struck for the first time and accounted for Rogers who had scored 29 runs by then.
Another 31 runs later, Enamul struck again removing the other opener Matsikenyeri, who had scored a well made 99-balls 51 runs. He left with the Zimbabwe score at 96/2.
The left-arm spinner struck for the third time, when he had Dion Ebrahim, leg before. Ebrahim had scored 12 runs in the team’s total of 107 runs for the loss of 3 wickets.
Four runs later, the young Bangladeshi bowler was once again successful in having Brendan Taylor, leg before, for his personal score of just 2 runs.
A 60-run fifth-wicket partnership between Hamilton Maskadza (43) and the Zimbabwean skipper Tatenda Taibu took the team to 171/5 when Maskadza departed.
The sixth-wicket partnership between Taibu and Elton Chigumbura (34) and the seventh-wicket partnership between Taibu and Tinashe Panyangara (21) took the team score to the level of 257 runs for the loss of 7 wickets.
It was time for Enamul to strike again. He successfully removed Graeme Cramer (1) and Douglas Hondo (0) by knocking out their stumps while he had Chris Mpofu (0) caught by Mohammad Ashrafull.
Zimbabwe’s first innings got over with 298 runs on the board with Taibu remaining unbeaten on 85* runs made off 218 deliveries with 8 fours in 294 minutes.
Emanul Haque (Jr) was the most successful bowler with the analysis of 36-9-95-7.
In response, Bangladesh put up 211 runs in their first knock with Mohammad Rafique scoring 56 runs off 79 deliveries with 7 fours and a six. They were trailing by 87 runs.
The Zimbabwean, medium pacer, Douglas Hondo returned with the figure of 22-7-59-6.
Taking a first innings lead, Zimbabwe went on to plunder 286 runs in their second knock with significant contributions from Brendon Taylor, who scored 78 runs off 135 deliveries with 10 fours and the skipper Taibu chipping in with a well made 153 runs off 292 deliveries with 19 fours and 2 sixes in an innings that lasted close to 6 hours (340 minutes).
The young Bangladeshi left-arm spinner, Enamul Haque (Jr) struck five blows, accounting for Brendon Taylor (78), Tatenda Taibu (153), Tinashe Panyangara (6), Graemae Cramer (0) and Douglas Hondo (3).
Enamul’s analysis in the second innings read 37-8-105-5.
Chasing a target of 374 runs, Bangladesh managed to score 285/5 by end of Day 5 with Nafees Iqbal notching up 121 runs off 355 deliveries with 18 fours.
The match ended in a draw.
Enamul Haque (Jr) who was 18 years and 40 days, finished the match with an excellent analysis of 73-17-200-12 and became the youngest bowler in Test history to claim 10+ wickets in a match.
For his wonderful performance with the ball, Enamul was awarded the Player of the Match.
