On 18th June 1983, Kapil Dev Nikhanj set the cricketing world alight with an incandescent 175 against Zimbabwe in a league match of the 1983 World Cup. A lot has already been written about that innings and its significance; that he came in to bat with the scoreboard reading 9-4, which in minutes became 17-5, and so on. The long and short if it is that had Kapil not played that knock, India would never have gone on to World Cup a week later. It was inarguably the most crucial limited-overs innings in the history of Indian cricket.

Exactly 22 years after Kapil's pyrotechnics at Tunbridge Wells in the English county of Kent, Mohammed Ashraful, a batting prodigy from cricket's newest and most-maligned full member, produced an equally unforgettable display at Cardiff, the capital of Wales. Considering the quality of the opposition, it was probably grander.

Ricky Ponting, Australia's captain, had stated that his team would 'laugh off' its Twenty20 loss to England last week, but their first-ever defeat to Bangladesh in a one-day international was certainly no laughing matter. It would have left the whole of Australia livid, and the entire cricketing world incredulous. There have been upsets before, the most memorable of which was Kenya's humiliation of the West Indies in the 1996 World Cup. But the Windies then were a side on the decline. Bangladesh's trouncing of the reigning world champions in the second match of the 2005 NatWest series has no competitors.

Batting first, the Aussies looked distinctly uncomfortable, almost as if they hadn't shaken off the trauma of their loss to Somerset in a one-dayer prior to the tri-series. Gilchrist fell in the first over, leg-before to Mashrafe Mortaza, and Ponting fell in the same fashion to Tapash Baisya in the fifth over. The 'Tigers' dried up the runs and Mortaza's figures at the end of his first spell read a phenomenal 6-2-5-1. Hayden played a couple of booming strokes but could not make much of a Nazmul Hossain delivery that breached his defence. Damien Martyn and Michael Clarke got together at 57-3 and staged a revival of sorts, but Australia's final total of 249-5 fell way below the expectations of just about every supporter of Ponting's team.

But then, the opponent was 'only Bangladesh', so there was no apparent cause for concern. The top order batted with grit, and a score of 72-3 in the 21st over was a solid platform from which to go for a win. But then, this was 'only Bangladesh'. The mandatory capitulation was expected to follow.

But the teenage sensation Mohammed Ashraful, who has it in him to overhaul every major batting landmark by the time he hangs his boots, decided to prove the Bangladeshi-baiters wrong. And confound his compatriots. His 100, scored off only 101 balls, was a masterpiece. He handled the bowlers with panache and exhibited his repertoire of strokes, quicksilver footwork and above all, a spirit that refused to surrender. He was the dominant partner in a fourth-wicket stand of 130 with his captain Habibul Bashar. The Bangladeshi sections at the ground could not contain themselves when he completed his hundred. "Can they do it?", was the query that pervaded their minds.

But the Aussies brought them down to earth when Ashraful holed out to Brad Hogg at long-on off Gillespie for a round 100 in the 48th over. Any other side in modern-day cricket would have still been expected to score 23 more to win from 17 balls with five wickets in hand, but not Bangladesh.

Mohammed Rafique may be one of the most experienced members of the Bangladeshi team, but he is not exactly used to being in winning situations. However, Cardiff on 18th June 2005 was different. He spotted an opportunity, and was determined to take it. He maintained the pressure on the Aussies with two boundaries, and by the time the last over began with Bangladesh needing only seven to win, watchers were rubbing their eyes in disbelief.
 

The disbelief turned to shock when Ahmed swung Gillespie for a six to level the scores. The batsmen ran a cheeky single off the very next delivery, sparking off riotous scenes in the Bangladeshi dressing-room, the Bangladeshi supporters at the ground and their countrymen in Dhaka.

This victory is a slap in the face off all those who have continued to question Bangladesh's presence among the 'elite' cricketing nations. Coach Dav Whatmore and captain Habibul Bashar would have exhorted the players to forget their devastating losses to England in the Test series, and give it their all. They played to their potential, with nothing to lose, and were richly rewarded. A victory against the awesome Aussies - it can't get any bigger than this.