A day full of records for Mushfiq
Mushfiqur Rahim
|| CF Correspondent ||
An indomitable Mushfiqur Rahim led Bangladesh in tightening the noose of the second and final Test against Zimbabwe, smashing his second double century on day two at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Monday (November 12).
Batting for almost 10 hours, he struck an epic 421-ball 219 not out to become the highest Test scorer for Bangladesh, eclipsing Shakib Al Hasan’s 217 against New Zealand in 2017. Mushfiqur’s innings eventually helped the side to declare the first innings on 522 for seven, their highest Test score against Zimbabwe, before the bowlers reduced the tourists to 25 for one in 18 overs and established Bangladesh’s firm dominance.
No batsman from Bangladesh hit more than one double century with Tamim Iqbal (206) and Shakib Al Hasan (217) being the other two double centurions. In doing so, Mushfiqur, the first double centurion of the country, also bettered some records.
The 31-year-old became the first keeper to score more than one double century. Before Mushfiqur, seven other keepers had scored double hundreds. His unbeaten 219 is also fourth-highest among those. Andy Flower's 232 not out against India in 2000 remains the highest.
The diminutive man is now the sixth cricketer – after Sir Don Bradman, George Headley, Vinoo Mankad, Brian Lara, and Virender Sehwag – to break his country's individual Test score record with an innings of 200 or more.
Mushfiqur played 421 balls and batted 589 minutes, highest by a Bangladeshi batsman in a Test innings. And last but not the least, his 219 not out is the first double century in this year in Test cricket.
After his record-breaking 266-run fourth wicket partnership with Mominul Haque (161) on day one, Mushfiqur made two important partnerships on day two to slowly bat out Zimbabwe from the match.
The wicketkeeper-batsman, along with skipper Mahmudullah Riyad, combined 73 runs for the sixth wicket before sharing an unbroken 144-run partnership with Mehidy Hasan.
Bangladesh batted in a contrasting manner as they mustered 105 runs in the second session at the expense of two wickets after accumulating only 62 runs in the opening session of day two, resuming the day at 303/5.
Following a wicket-less session, fast bowler Kyle Jarvis (5-71) gave the tourist first breakthrough just after lunch, removing Mahmudullah for 36.
Two overs later, Jarvis completed his third five-for, getting the better of Ariful Haque (4) with a short-pitched delivery.
But that was Zimbabwe’s last success on a frustrating day as they were one bowler short following fast bowler Tendai Chatara’s muscle strain that ruled him out of the match after he delivered only two balls in the morning session. According to a ZC spokesperson, Chatara has suffered a suspected Grade 2 quad muscle strain and is now out of the match.
In an otherwise chanceless innings, Mushfiqur, the first double-centurion of the country dominated the bowlers in a surgical manner, keeping the Zimbabwe bowlers at bay.
There was a moment of discomfort for him though. Jarvis hit one of the cracks to extract plenty of life out of the surface and jagged back appreciably to take the inside edge of him. Mushfiqur could call himself lucky as he was dropped by Regis Chakabva who went for the catch with a dive but despite stretching his right-hand, failed to pouch it.
Curiously, the on-field umpire ruled it as leg-byes but Ultra Edge clearly suggested that Mushfiqur had eked out a nick and it was a lucky escape for him on 112 runs.
Mushfiqur smacked 18 fours and one six in his knock. Mehidy Hasan helped him with 68 not out, smashing five fours and one six.
Aiming to win their first ever Test series since 2011, Zimbabwe began cautiously before left-arm spinner Taijul Islam broke through with the wicket of captain Hamilton Maskadza, who pushed a turning delivery to first slip for 14.
Brian Chari and nightwatchman Donald Tiripano were batting on 10 and 0 before the end of the day.
