'All is possible from this man'

He was not comfortable physically; but when has that ever mattered to the lion-hearted cricketer? Fitness was not an issue for him to create domestic cricket history at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah yesterday. With the continuous fights with injuries that have dogged his 15-year career -- during which he has won many glorious battles -- when has he ever been comfortable with his body? 

Mashrafe Bin Mortaza was feeling weak before the match as he had been suffering from fever a few days back, but the man forgets the rest of the world when he enters a cricket field and that unmatched spirit unleashed a tornado from Mashrafe the batsman at Fatullah. A 50-ball hundred which contained two fours and 11 massive sixes was a domestic record but Mashrafe was little bothered with the record; instead it was the fact that his Kalabagan Krira Chakra won the match against Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club that made him happier.

“It feels good as the team won the match. If I could have played better we could have won more matches, but today we won so it feels good. I didn't think about the century but was thinking of increasing the run-rate, we still have five matches left and we will try to do something good and do well,” was the reaction from the consummate team man.

He was happy that his innings gave his team – currently in 10th position in the 12-team table – some much-needed momentum. “All matches were vital from the start, but we managed to win today, and at least we managed to create some sort of a momentum.”

Mashrafe might only have looked at his own score when he reached 97 as the team run-rate was his only concern, but even those who were on the receiving end enjoyed the hurricane batting from the Bangladesh ODI skipper.

Pacer Shafiul Islam who finally got the wicket of Mashrafe the ball after the Narail Express hit a six to bring up his ton, said that Mashrafe looked like a proper batsman during his 104. “He [Mashrafe] played all proper cricketing shots. It was a nice exhibition of clean hitting. It was a good batting track and he fully capitalised on it. And who does not know everything is possible from this man,” said Shafiul, who however did not feel the heat as much as left-arm spinner Wahidul Alam, who was hammered for four sixes in the 48th over including the one which Mashrafe smote over long-on to reach the magical three-figure mark.

Marshall Ayub who took the catch to dismiss Mashrafe, echoed the sentiment. “If you didn't see the innings you may think that it's a fluke but no, he played all the cricketing shots. His innings was chanceless. And he might have just now gotten his maiden hundred but he has played some vital hurricane knocks previously. So, you cannot say it's unexpected.”

In the end, Mashrafe just showed that he can produce magic anytime.