Birthday special: Mushfiqur Rahim – Five top knocks of the Bangla batsman
This diminutive wicketkeeper-batsman occupies an important place in the history of Bangladesh cricket. Mushfiqur Rahim has been a critical member of the Bangladesh cricket team and has scored over 12000 runs in international cricket for the Bangladeshi Tigers.
Having made his debut in the year 2005, Rahim has slowly gone on to become one of the pillars of the Bangladesh side in the last decade and a half. As Rahim turns 34 today, let us take a look at the Top 5 knocks from Rahim’s willow.
5) 117 vs India (ODIs)
Mushfiqur Rahim’s dexterity came to the fore on 26th February 2014 against the Indian side in Fatullah. The diminutive batsman sent the Indian bowling attack on a leather hunt and scored a 113-ball 117, to power the Bangladesh side to a total of 279/7.
In reply, the Indian willow-wielders were up to the task. The legendary Virat Kohli scored a scintillating 136 as India went past the target with 6 wickets and 6 balls to spare.
4) 219* vs Zimbabwe (Tests)
In November 2018, Mushfiqur Rahim pulverized the Zimbabwe bowling attack and scored a marvellous 219* off 421 deliveries. Rahim’s knock helped the Bangladesh side post a total of 522/7 on the board.
In reply, the Zimbabwe outfit was bowled out for a total of 304. Bangladesh batted again and set a target of 443 for the Zimbabwe side. Mehidy Hasan scalped a five-wicket haul in Zimbabwe’s second innings as the Bangladeshi Tigers thrashed their opposition by 218 runs.
3) 144 vs Sri Lanka (ODIs)
Mushfiqur Rahim’s classic 114 off 150 deliveries helped the Bangladesh outfit thrash the Sri Lankan side by a margin of 137 runs. Batting first, Bangladesh posted a total of 261 on the board. And, the Bangladesh innings was completely about Rahim. In an innings embellished with 11 fours and 4 sixes, the right-hander single-handedly helped Bangladesh cross the 250-run mark.
In reply, the Sri Lankan side produced a shoddy performance with the bat and were bowled out for a total of just 124. Mushfiqur Rahim walked away with the Player of the Match award for his marvellous innings.
2) 200 vs Sri Lanka (Tests)
In a high scoring encounter between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, Mushfiqur Rahim emerged as the brightest spot. Sri Lanka batted first and posted a total of 570/4. Kumar Sangakkara, Lahiru Thirimanne and Dinesh Chandimal slammed centuries.
Bangladesh replied with a colossal total of 638, with Mushfiqur Rahim plundering 200 off 321 deliveries. Mohammad Ashraful also scored a classy 190 off 417 deliveries. In the second innings, Sri Lanka scored 335/4 and set Bangladesh a target of 268. Bangladesh safely negotiated 22 overs in the second innings as the match ended in a draw.
1) 159 vs New Zealand (Tests)
The 159 that Mushfiqur Rahim scored at Wellington in New Zealand will go down as the best innings of his career. In a foreign land, the likes of Shakib al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim toyed with the Kiwi bowling attack. While Shakib scored 217, Rahim scored a stroke-filled 159 off 260 deliveries, as Bangladesh ended their first innings with a colossal total of 595/8.
In reply, the Black Caps scored 539, with Tom Latham scoring a classic 177.But then, the Bangladesh side was annihilated in the second innings, and was bowled out for a total of just 160. And, New Zealand chased down the target of 217 comfortably with 7 wickets to spare.
