Bangladesh wicket-keeper batsman Mushfiqur Rahim’s fiery batting towards the end of Bangladesh’s innings against Sri Lanka on Saturday was inspired by opener Tamim Iqbal going to bat with a broken hand.
Mushfiqur was unbeaten on 112 runs and the team was reeling at 229 for nine when Bangladesh lost Mustafizur Rahman and the innings was to end there. But it took everyone by surprise when Tamim walked in to take strike with a broken wrist, picked in the second over of the game.
“I was in momentum when Tamim got to bat down as the last batsman. I thought I should do something for him under the condition he went out to bat. I tried and Alhamdulillah I was successful,” said Mushfiqur to the media at the team hotel in Dubai on Sunday.
With Tamim coming back to bat, set batsman Mushfiqur fired on all cylinders, blasting a 15-ball 32 with four boundaries and as many over-boundaries. The heroics by the right-handed batsman took the team total to 261 from 229 before Mushfiqur perished as the last Bangladesh batsman with three balls remaining.
Mushfiqur finished with a match-winning 114 off 150 deliveries with 11 boundaries and four over-boundaries. The innings was Mushfiqur’s career best and second highest ODI innings by a Bangladesh batsman. Left-handed opener Tamim tops the list with 154 runs.
