Wicketkeeper cum batsman Mushfiqur Rahim’s hit a magnificent century of 144 runs, which is highest in his ODI innings, during Bangladesh’s post of 261/10 against Sri Lanka in the 14th Asia Cup opener at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in UAE on Saturday.
Mushfiq touched the 100-run mark in the 43.3rd over of the match hammering a boundary off Suranga Lakmal simply glanced to the fine to place the shot past the keeper’s left when Bangladesh’s score was on 210/8.
It was the 150th ball Bangladesh’s talismanic wicketkeeper-batsman faced, having scored 144 runs, well over half the team total that he laced with 11 boundaries and 4 sixes.
The 3rd highest ODI runs getter Mushfiq made his debut in this format against Zimbabwe at Harare in August 2006 and played so far 188 games to aggregate a 4972-run, including six centuries and 29 half centuries, with an average of 33.82.
However, Bangladesh opted to bat first in the Group ‘B’ match of the six-nation Asia Cup opener on the day and Mushfiq was last man out off the 3rd ball of the 50th over where the average first innings total of Bangladesh was almost forty runs less.
Mushfiq completed his 6th ODI century and found 14 balls company in the end by a brave Tamim Iqbal [2* off 4b], who was retired out on 3/2 in the 2nd over and showed incredible courage facing the pace of Suranga Lakmal with only one hand having returned to partner Mushy and try and play out the allotted overs when Bangladesh was on 229/9 in 46.5 overs.
Sharing a 32-run with Tamim in the 10th wicket, Mushfiq was caught by Kusal Mendis on team’s final collection, facing the last ball of the match off pace bowler Thisara Perera, but by then he had made his mate’s decision worth the pain.
Besides his individual score, Mushfiq partnered with youngster Mohammad Mithun for a 131 run partnership off 23.3 overs in the 3rd wicket that recovered and revived the innings from a crumbling situation from 3 for 2 in 2 overs – but effectively 3/3 with Tamim retiring hurt.
Wicketkeeper Mithun [63 off 68b; 5×4; 2×6] was another big hitter with his maiden international half century before Sri Lankan experienced pacer Lasith Malinga removed him from 3rd pair on 134/3 in 25.3 overs.
