‘360’ Mushy powers Khulna
Less than a month ago when almost all the Bangladesh batsman struggled to cope with the quality bowling during the two-match Test series in India, Mushfiqur Rahim was the only batsman to show the class, technique and temperament to set himself apart and strike two fifties in the two games.
In the span of three weeks, Mushfiqur retained his form while shifting focus from the longer version to the shortest format in the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League for Khulna Tigers.
After scoring an unbeaten 28 to win the first game, the 32-year-old smashed a blistering 51-ball 96 to chase down the joint-fifth highest total in BPL history of 189 by Rajshahi Royals yesterday.
The stellar contribution from the captain sealed a five-wicket win at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram, Khulna’s second win as many games.
Mushfiqur needed four runs to reach his first T20 century, with Khulna needing two off the last four balls of the innings. He went for glory, only to be caught by Shoaib Malik at long-on off Ravi Bopara, ending a match-winning 51-ball 96, during which he hammered four sixes and nine fours.
Following the early dismissals of openers Najmul Hossain Shanto (0) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (7), Mushfiqur took charge to stabilize the chase with Rilee Rossouw.
The wicket at the ZACS lived to its reputation once again, offering a lot of runs, as Mushfiqur and Rilee took on the Rajshahi bowlers and added 72 for the third wicket.
Mushfiqur played the role of the aggressor as he added 44 off 27 while the in-form Rilee contributed 26 off as many deliveries before being dismissed by pacer Kamrul Islam for 42 off 35.
The Khulna skipper however remained strong as he built two more partnerships, a 61-run fourth-wicket stand with Shamsur Rahman and another 30 with Robbie Frylinck for the fifth wicket.
The experienced cricketer displayed an array of improvised and conventional cricketing shots, ranging from his scoops to sweeps and drives, with great elegance as an elated James Foster –Khulna’s head coach -- termed Mushfiqur a ‘360 degree player’, the name given to South Africa batsmen AB de Villers for his wide shot-making range.
“Mushy is a 360-degree player. In the last few years, having played against him when I was with Khulna Titans [as assistant coach], he is very difficult to bowl at. Very powerful as well but he has got a touch game, he is the complete package.
“I am saying he is a 360 player because he is hitting all around the ground. He is a wonderful player, one of the cricketers very difficult to bowl at. You know, there are cricketers who are strong hitting to deep midwicket, to mid-off. But Mushy is a player who can hit behind and straight but that doesn’t come with luck, it comes with a lot of hard work and practice,” Foster said yesterday.
Earlier in the game, Rajshahi Royals were sent to bat first and Shoaib’s 50-ball 87, with eight boundaries and four sixes, helped the side post 189 for four. Left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir picked two while Frylinck and Shahidul Islam bagged a wicket each.
It was the highest score of the edition, eclipsing Dhaka Platoon’s 182 in the Dhaka leg, but Mushfiqur made sure that it would not stay at the top for long.
SCORES IN BRIEF
Rajshahi Royals: 189 for 4 in 20 overs (Malik 87, Bopara 40 not out; Amir 2-36)
Khulna Tigers: 192 for 5 in 19.4 overs (Rahim 96, Rossouw 42; Russell 2-41)
Result: Tigers won by 5 wickets.
Player-of-the-match: Mushfiqur Rahim.
Comments