Crisis man Mushfiqur delivers yet again

A display of sheer determination and focus from Mushfiqur Rahim underlined why the experienced wicketkeeper-batter is still rated as one of the best Bangladeshi batters in the longest format of the game.

Mushfiqur yet again emerged as the crisis man for the Tigers when the hosts found themselves in a spot of bother after resuming the second day of the lone Test against Ireland. But the 36-year-old stood strong and registered a magnificent century to help Bangladesh take a healthy first-innings lead and eye a win by the end of the third day.

The dependable Mushfiqur registered his tenth Test hundred with a mix of composure and aggression.

After losing Mominul Haque early in the day, the hosts were struggling on 40 for three. Mushfiqur and skipper Shakib Al Hasan then steadied the ship for Bangladesh. Although Shakib played the role of the aggressor, Mushfiqur was rock solid at the other end with his temperament and bided his time.

However, he also made sure to dispatch deliveries according to the merit of the ball. Whether it was an on-drive to pacer Mark Adair or his sweeps and reverse sweeps to disrupt the rhythm of the spinners --Mushfiqur showed an array of strokes across the ground.

While Shakib missed out his hundred and was dismissed for 87, Mushfiqur went on to reach his century off 135 deliveries.

"It was amazing. Again, we were in a little bit of trouble with him at the other end and, Mushy generally comes good when the chips are down. He sticks in there and makes sure he gets his call for us and got the score going nicely," Bangladesh batting coach Jamie Siddons said yesterday.

"Again, he was aggressive when it was required. When the bad ball was there, he put it away. But very disciplined around his defence and his leaving game. So, I was really happy with that. In Test cricket, we need to have that." Mushfiqur made sure the Tigers had taken a substantial lead and gained a measure of control on the visitors before being dismissed for a 166-ball 126 that featured 15 fours and a six.

It was Mushfiqur's third hundred in the last year. With ten centuries, he now equals Tamim Iqbal as the Bangladeshi with the second-most centuries in Tests. If he continues to perform in this manner, it is only a matter of time before Mushfiqur surpasses Mominul's eleven hundreds in Tests.