Middle-order batsman Mahmudullah lifted Bangladesh to a modest score of 156-5 through his unbeaten 49 runs against Australia at the Chinnaswamy Stadium at Bangalore on Monday.
The Tigers’ strength was severely dented when in-form opener Tamim Iqbal was ruled out of the game with a viral fever due to food poisoning.Mahmudullah took the responsibility to rise to the occasion and steadied Tigers’ ship with two valuable partnerships respectively with Sakib al Hasan (33) and Mushfiqur Rahim (15 not out).
Bangladesh needed someone to take the responsibility of guiding the team until the end when Mahmuduallah arrived at the crease with the scorecard tickling at 78-4 in 11.3 overs.
Mahmuduallah, who had the record of scoring two centuries in the ICC World Cup in Australia, looked to seize the opportunity with both hands and blazed the stadium with some eye-catching shots all around the wicket.
He never looked short of options against the Australians and treated every bowler according to merit on his 29-ball stay that consisted of seven fours and a six.
Mushfiq gave him required support during their unbeaten stand of 51 runs for the sixth wicket that eventually gave the bowlers some total to defend against the Australians.
Mahmudullah can claim himself unlucky not to end the day with an unbeaten half-century but surely raised the morale of the Tigers, who also lost two key bowlers Taskin Ahmed and Arafat Sunny to suspension, with his play.
-With New Age input
