Outstanding performances from Mushfiqur Rahim's ODI career
Bangladesh's dynamic wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim put in some memorable innings over his 19 year ODI career.
Mushfiqur started his ODI journey in 2006, wherein he quickly built his reputation as a feisty customer up for a fight irrespective of the opposition. While he gradually transitioned into a reliable middle-order batter, Mushfiqur never lost his appetite for a fight, and delivered brilliant performances with the willow throughout his career.
Here's a look at five of the best:
56* vs India (India, 2007)
A five-wicket ICC Cricket World Cup win for Bangladesh was helmed by a 19-year-old Mushfiqur, who arrived at the crease in the fifth over and put on 56 not out - one of three of his side to make a half-century in the innings. It was not the quickest of knocks, requiring 107 balls and 185 minutes at a strike rate of 52.33, but it was just what was needed - allowing Tamim Iqbal and Shakib al Hasan to move things on.
Earlier in the day, Mushfiqur had also taken two catches, removing Sachin Tendulkar for just 7 off the bowling of Abdur Razzak, and Ajit Agarkar off Mashrafe Mortaza for a duck.
At the time, this was a memorable win for Bangladesh, just the second time that they had beaten a full-member nation in the ICC Cricket World Cup.
89 vs England (Adelaide, 2015)
It might not have been his highest score but it was a notable one as Bangladesh beat England by 15 runs in the ICC Cricket World Cup. With Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur formed the highest wicket partnership for their country in the tournament, adding 141 runs between them for the fifth wicket.
Mahmudullah celebrated his century - the first by a Bangladesh batter in the competition - in exuberant fashion, but Mushfiqur's more considered, careful knock was equally important. He got 89 off 77 balls, including eight fours and a six, and took four catches behind the stumps as well as contributing to the run-out of opener Moeen Ali.
Mushfiqur Rahim, 89 vs England
144 vs Sri Lanka (Dubai, 2018)
His highest score in the format, this knock of 144 from 150 balls sealed a 137-run win over Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup. Nobody else made even half of that tally - indeed, none of the Sri Lankan batters got more than 29 - so it meant he shouldered the bulk of the burden of responsibility, and rose to the challenge.
With the scoreboard on 1/2, he came in at No 4 and formed a partnership with Mohammad Mithun that saw their side out of trouble.
Mushfiqur finished with the third-highest score in Asia Cup history.
102* vs Australia (Nottingham, 2019)
This was a milestone innings, albeit in a losing effort in the ICC Cricket World Cup, in a big-scoring game at Trent Bridge. Ultimately David Warner's mammoth 166 saw the Aussies home with a 48-run margin of victory, making 381/5.
But it was a valiant response from Bangladesh as they mustered 333/8 in response - their highest-ever one-day international total at the time. Mushfiqur was unbeaten on 102, his first century in the tournament, making him the third Bangladesh batter to achieve it. He hit nine fours and a six for his unbeaten 102 off 97 balls.
100 vs Ireland (Sylhet, 2023)
It all ended in a wash-out, but this was an exceptional display from Mushfiqur, breaking Shakib al-Hasan's record and hitting the fastest-ever century by a Bangladesh batter, managing it in just 60 balls - with 14 fours and two maximums. In the process, he also became the third man to score 7,000 one-day international runs for Bangladesh. It helped his side to 349/6, their new highest total in the format.