Bangladesh top-order batter Nazmul Hossain Shanto continued his red-hot form in the international arena, scoring a commanding hundred against Afghanistan in the one-off Test match in Mirpur's Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium Wednesday.
Shanto picked up his third Test century as his 146-run innings was composed with 23 boundaries and a couple of sixes.
Although Shanto is scoring heavily for the Tigers in all three formats for around a year, the starting years of his international career at the top-order did not inspire confidence.
Shanto though said he always had the belief in his work process and knew big scores will come.
The southpaw focused on his training rather than demotivate himself when the big scores were not coming.
“I always believed that my pattern of practice was in the right way. I knew how much hard work I was doing and what kind of practice I needed. I had the belief that I was on the right path. I was giving proper effort in practice but unfortunately, big scores were not coming in the matches,” said Shanto.
“When I am not scoring runs, obviously it felt a bit bad. But I was not bothered that much by the outside talks. Yes, sometimes I was feeling low. But my focus was on how I could improve my lacking. Now the big scores are coming and I am focusing on continuing this as long as possible,” he added.
Shanto was batting confidently and with authority as he was scoring at a strike rate of more than 80.
He got a life while he was batting on 143 when he played on but the bowler had overstepped.
But he managed to score just three more runs after that lucky escape.
The way he was batting it looked like a double century was on the cards.
Although Shanto had no regrets with his knock, he admitted he will try to post a bigger innings from a well-set situation if such an opportunity arises in future.
“I was concentrating well from the beginning. Me getting out at that time, yes, the innings could have been bigger. Next time I will try to convert my innings into a larger and bigger one,” Shanto said.
Shanto formed a superb partnership with Mahmudul Hasan Joy for the second wicket when these two added 212.
Although Bangladesh batsmen dominated at close of play on day one by scoring 350-plus runs after being asked to bat first, the Afghanistan bowlers did create some nervy moments for the Tigers when Shanto, Mominul Haque (15) and skipper Liton Das (nine) got out quickly.
But Shanto believes Mushfiqur Rahim-Mehedi Hasan Miraz's partnership for the unbroken sixth wicket (72) can cover that mini hiccup and help the Tigers pile up a big score in the first innings.
“It would have been great if we had formed another big partnership in the middle overs. But now the way Mushfiq bhai and Miraz are batting, I think if they can form a big one then we will be in the driving seat completely," he concluded.
