Right-handed wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim hit a ton in the second game of the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka on Tuesday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium to guide the team to a challenging total of 246 runs.
It was the eighth ton by Mushfiqur in the format. He is now the third-highest centurion for the Tigers in ODIs after Tamim Iqbal (13) and Shakib Al Hasan (9).
Like the first game of the series, Bangladesh lost two early wickets as Tamim fell for 13 in the second over after having a dream start in the first over, and two balls later, Shakib Al Hasan also backed to the dressing room for a duck. Both the wickets were taken by Dushmantha Chameera.
The onus was on Liton Das to accompany Mushfiqur Rahim for a longer period of time to bring up a big partnership. But failed once again to impress as he fell for 25 off 42.
It was a length ball outside off and turning away. Liton tried to cut it to the boundary but only managed to produce an easy catch to the point region.
Mosaddek Hossain, the new number five who got the chance for the continuous failure of Mohammad Mithun, disappointed to justify his inclusion. The right-handed batsman contributed 10 off 12.
In the fifth wicket stand, Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah Riyad added 87 runs. In the first match, they had posted 109 runs. They came up to rescue the struggling side once again.
The stand came to an end when Mahmudullah fell prey to Lakshan Sandakan for 41. The wicket hunted more by the keeper than the bowler. Mahmudullah went to paddle and the keeper anticipated it and moved to his left to take a one-handed catch.
The rain came in when Bangladesh were batting at 196 for seven in 41.1 overs, with Mushfiqur and Mohammad Saifuddin were unbeaten for 85 and two. The match resumed after a gap spanning 24 minutes. After 14 delivered were bowled after the game resumed, the rain came again and washed 38 minutes off the game.
When the game restarts after the second interruption by the rain, Mushfqiur was batting at 96 off 111 balls. The right-handed batsman took only four balls to reach his ton, flicking Chameera off a four.
Mushfiqur eventually ended up at 125 off 127 balls with 10 fours with Tigers posting 246 for 10 in 48.1 overs.
For Sri Lanka, Chameera and Lakshan Sandakan bagged three wickets each while Isuru Udana took two wickets.
Bangladesh won the first match of the series. So a win in this game will enable them to win an ODI series against Sri Lanka for the first time in their history. The Tigers have previously played eight ODI series against the Lankan Lions but failed to win any of them.