A unique century

[Eshen]

A good piece from Isam

A unique century
Mohammad Isam

Shakib Al Hasan's century yesterday would remain a landmark for two reasons, one overriding the other. It was the 10th one-day international century for Bangladesh, but more importantly it was the only hundred that was scored in the midst of a shabby batting display; when everything for the Tigers was lost.

Bangladesh had won the toss and decided to bat on a flat deck with the sun beating down on it. As usual, the top-order let go of the advantage and Bangladesh lost their footing on the match.

But the left-handed batsman watching the catastrophe unfold from the other end did not let go of his instincts, fortunately.

Shakib opened his repertoire of shots with a rasping square-cut off Umar Gul and followed it up with a miscued hook two balls later, his only aerial shot of the 120 balls he faced. Shakib's handling of Gul and Mohammad Asif was remarkable as the Tigers top-order were terrorised by the two.

With Bangladesh slipping to 49-5, Shakib found little strike but whenever he did, Shakib's strokes hinted a continuation of his beautiful 75 played in Lahore three days ago.

By the time Bangladesh's ninth wicket partnership 'expert' came to bat, Shakib had reached his half-century off 64 balls. Everyone thought that it would be yet another customary Bangladesh innings with one man scoring a 50 and the rest doing nothing.

Maybe Mashrafe Bin Mortaza's aggression rubs off on people or it was Shakib simply greeting his friend from Narail, but the cracking pull off Gul was audacious.

Shakib could not have asked for a better batting partner than Mashrafe but with two wickets left he must have wondered how far he would go. But the man who makes it a habit of adding valuable runs coming lower down the order made sure his younger Khulna teammate got a big one.

The southpaw swept Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik in front of midwicket to move to 96 and off his 115th ball, Shakib landed his second hundred at the highest level of the game.

Mashrafe fell for 38 off 67 balls, with just one boundary. And if ever there was a vice-captain's knock, this was it. The two Khulna boys added 97 for the ninth wicket, beating the 62-run stand between Khaled Mashud and Mohammad Rafique made in 2005. Shakib was last man out for the Tigers, scoring 108 off 120 balls with a solid strike rate of 90 and blazed eight boundaries. He scored more than half of Bangladesh's 210 made in 49.1 overs.

If one looks at the previous nine hundreds, Shakib's knock will be compared with Mohammad Ashraful's 100 against Australia in 2005 in terms of class but Shakib made most of his runs with the tail.

A hundred is a hundred and it would be unfair to degrade the others but Shakib's could be an inspiration for his teammates and last of all, it is groundbreaking.

http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=32487

[Eshen]

This is the second ODI century against a top-8 team by a Bangladeshi batsman, after Ashraful's 100 against Australia in Cardiff three years ago.

[BangladeshFan]

3 years passed by to get an ODI century..... shows where the Bangladeshi batsmen are in terms of quality.

[WarWolf]

Originally Posted by Eshen
This is the second ODI century against a top-8 team by a Bangladeshi batsman, after Ashraful's 100 against Australia in Cardiff three years ago.

Best ODI century by a Bangladeshi batsman.

[wrong `un]

How come you got the article even before Daily Star was updated.

[Yameen]

big up the khulna manz!!

[Rabz]

Originally Posted by Eshen
This is the second ODI century against a top-8 team by a Bangladeshi batsman, after Ashraful's 100 against Australia in Cardiff three years ago.

Now, thats a really frigtening stat.
A sad one also.

Btw, nice article Isam.

[Protic]

Really happy for sakib.. the dudes like invisible in terms of fame.. Go sakib.

[Tigers_eye]

I give credit to Riyad, Abdur Razzak to keep company with Shakib. And ofcourse Mash.

I was hoping Mash gets a fifty.

Anyways, this century didn't get us a win. He saved us from getting rediculed by the media once again and got the man of the match though.

Isam rocks!! I hope our players give him more to write about in coming days.

[Eshen]

Originally Posted by WarWolf
Best ODI century by a Bangladeshi batsman.

Nah, Ashraful's century is still best in my opinion, because of the way he spanked McGrath and Co and brought us the victory. Although, Shakib's century is unique, as Isam said, because of the situation from where he scored it.

[Nocturnal]

thanks for sharing Eshen.

[cricket_pagol]

Really good stuff... shakib is definitely a player for the future. Our top order batsman have been less than impressive... especially the aftab/ashraful du with so much experience in their bag... they are so unpredictable.

[Fazal]

Originally Posted by Eshen
Nah, Ashraful's century is still best in my opinion, because of the way he spanked McGrath and Co and brought us the victory.

however that did more damage to Ash's career, fans and BD cricket ... that gave us alse hope and confidence and divert us to wrong way to success.... and the sad part is most of us will ever admit it.

[simon]

Keep going Moyna!!!!!
And hope Tamim gets one in the next match.

[AsifTheManRahman]

Only 8 boundaries for his 108, and yet a strike rate of 90. This is the most important part. Ash, Aftab - L.E.A.R.N.

[WarWolf]

Originally Posted by Eshen
Nah, Ashraful's century is still best in my opinion, because of the way he spanked McGrath and Co and brought us the victory. Although, Shakib's century is unique, as Isam said, because of the situation from where he scored it.

Shakib's century is far more matured.

Originally Posted by AsifTheManRahman
Only 8 boundaries for his 108, and yet a strike rate of 90. This is the most important part. Ash, Aftab - L.E.A.R.N.

Definitely the century from Ash was much more eye catching, similar to some eye catching innings from Afridi. Whereas Shakib's innings was a classic middle order innings to lift the team from the bottom of the hole. He not only managed to survive but also continue to score while watching regular wickets falling at the other end. I always prefer this kinda innings over that kind.

[Spitfire_x86]

Originally Posted by BangladeshFan
3 years passed by to get an ODI century..... shows where the Bangladeshi batsmen are in terms of quality.

We had to wait 7 years for the between the 1st and 2nd one, so we're clearly improving :P

[cricket_pagol]

Originally Posted by WarWolf
Shakib's century is far more matured.

Definitely the century from Ash was much more eye catching, similar to some eye catching innings from Afridi. Whereas Shakib's innings was a classic middle order innings to lift the team from the bottom of the hole. He not only managed to survive but also continue to score while watching regular wickets falling at the other end. I always prefer this kinda innings over that kind.

Agreed.

[Kabir]

Originally Posted by WarWolf
Definitely the century from Ash was much more eye catching, similar to some eye catching innings from Afridi. Whereas Shakib's innings was a classic middle order innings to lift the team from the bottom of the hole. He not only managed to survive but also continue to score while watching regular wickets falling at the other end. I always prefer this kinda innings over that kind.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

I simply can't get over this innings. From 108/8 to 210/10...that as well with a century. I mean...I wasn't able to show my face when we were 96/7. What an innings man...Mashallah. May he get some more opportunities to show the world that this is possible too.

I'm ready to call that the innings of the century.

[Tigers_eye]

had we won this century I would rate this century higher than Ash's. but we didn't win. So Ash still has the upper hand. Performance even in team settings only counts when they equate to win. Tendulkar's zillion centuries had resulted less wins than Ganguly's. Both 10k+ run scorers.

A unique century no doubt. An impressive one no doubt. better total runs than Ash's no doubt. Yet Ash's century remains the best to date because of the win. Even his 87 against SA (we won) in my book is rated higher than Shakib's 108. And I love how Shakib plays cricket.

Winning is the bottom line.

[Eshen]

Ditto to what Tiger uncle said.

[Kabir]

Mijan bhai...apnare Eshen uncle bole? Ami to bhabsilam Eshen apnar thekeo boro!

Old people these days man...jekaure uncle daka shuru kore.

[Tigers_eye]

Originally Posted by Kabir
Mijan bhai...apnare Eshen uncle bole? Ami to bhabsilam Eshen apnar thekeo boro!

Old people these days man...jekaure uncle daka shuru kore.

tomar kasey ami boyosh churi korsi. ekhonoy 27, dosh boshor agey'o 27 chilo, tar agey'o. Tobey Sohel bhai amar boro bhai, guru mani.

[WarWolf]

Originally Posted by Tigers_eye
tomar kasey ami boyosh churi korsi. ekhonoy 27, dosh boshor agey'o 27 chilo, tar agey'o. Tobey Sohel bhai amar boro bhai, guru mani.

Ami to apnar ar sohel bhai er natir boyoshi. Matro 29.

Jauk ga, loke to dada nana reo vai bole. apnader o na hoi ami vai i bollam.

[Tigers_eye]

Originally Posted by WarWolf
Ami to apnar ar sohel bhai er natir boyoshi. Matro 29.

Jauk ga, loke to dada nana reo vai bole. apnader o na hoi ami vai i bollam.

Dekhi naak ta dao tho. Tip daiye dehki.

Fazlami koro amar shatey? Ami nana? Jao biya'r piri gusao. Uncle shojjho kora jai. tai boley nana?