Bangladesh savours win

Bangladesh burst into celebrations with hundreds of revellers taking to the streets after their cricket team beat Australia in a one-day international, arguably the biggest upset ever in the history of the game.

Bangladesh are the lowest ranked nation in the International Cricket Council table and Australia are reigning world champions. At the start of their game in Cardiff on Saturday, one British bookmaker had Australia 500-1 ON to win.

Bangladesh won by five wickets.

"This is not just a win. This is when Bangladesh has conquered the world," chanted university student Kaushik Ahmed, celebrating on the streets of Dhaka.

"Let there be no mistake that Bangladesh can upset the world, especially when it comes to cricket," said 57-year-olfd Mozammel Huq, a businessman.

Morning newspapers cheered the victory.

"Tigers turn world upside down," wrote the Daily Star.

"Tigers trounce Aussies," said the News Today. "Brave Bangladesh bash Australia," was the headline in the Independent.

Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia was quick to congratulate the Bangladeshi players, saying she believed they would keep the winning spree going.

In reply to Australia's 249 for five in 50 overs, Mohammad Ashraful struck a run-a-ball century, only the second ever scored in one-dayers by a Bangladeshi, as his side reached 250 for five with four balls to spare.

Bangladesh, rated by one firm a 50-1 against chance to beat Australia, had not won against the world champions in six previous one-day meetings and had only beaten two of the leading test sides before, Pakistan and India, in 107 games.

Students of Dhaka University took out a victory parade in the campus on Saturday night while hundreds of city residents came out of their homes, waving the Bangladesh flag, chanting "bravo", dancing and singing.