The veteran Bangladesh all-rounder Mahmudullah will play his 141st and final Twenty20 international Saturday evening against India in the series-concluding third match in Hyderabad. The country’s record T20I cap holder, the 38-year old is the last member of the Tigers’ “big five” to bow out of international 20-over cricket. Below are three of his most memorable innings from his 17-year T20I career:
43* off 18 against Sri Lanka, 2018 Nidahas Trophy
Not only was this match-winning knock a T20I career highlight for Mahmudullah, but it was also rated as one of the best individual international 20-over innings that year. Hitting three fours and a couple of sixes, he took Bangladesh to the final with a maximum off the penultimate delivery of the innings following a hot-tempered clash. "One of my best innings. Planned to strike the ball as hard as I can, I was under pressure,” Mahmudullah had said after the game.
18 off 22 against India, 2016 T20 World Cup
A knock that turned out to be a “life-changing moment” for the Mymensingh cricketer who later said “that innings served as a lesson to me” in all these years. The Tigers had a golden opportunity to record a memorable victory over India but eventually failed to score two runs off three balls. First Mushfiqur Rahim got out caught at deep midwicket before Mahmudullah perished in the same region, that too off a juicy full-toss delivery, as Bangladesh fell agonizingly short by one mere run.
52 off 53 against Australia, 2021 home series
Among his eight T20I half-centuries, the one against the Aussies in Mirpur was an important innings in a series-winning cause. Hitting four fours on a pitch difficult for run-making, Mahmudullah held one end as wickets kept tumbling at the other. By the time he was dismissed in the 20th over, the Tigers had put up a competitive total before they prevailed by 10 runs to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.
