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By the end of the Bangladesh innings, it looked like a run chase. With four balls to go, Mushfiqur Rahim needed nine runs to pick up his first One-Day International century in more than 18 months.
The first ball went for two, in the next, Mushfiq pulled out a scoop to pick up his 14th four of the innings, and the next ball again delivered a double.
The final ball, a low full-toss on the legs, was easy pickings for Mushfiq as he clipped to the leg side and etched his name as the fastest-ever centurion for Bangladesh.
Mushfiq picked up his century off just 60 balls, breaking the record of Shakib Al Hasan, who had done it in 63 balls back in 2009 against Zimbabwe.
After he reached triple figures, Mushfiq let out a roar, possibly because of the anticipation but surely because of the growing pressure on the veteran.
Since his last ODI century, Mushfiq has retired from Twenty20 Internationals, and his place in the ODI team was also questioned. He showed some promise with his 70-run knock against England but that too took 93 balls.
Against Ireland, he was deployed at number six, a position he had not batted at since 2016 as the 35-year-old. In the first ODI, he blasted 44 runs off just 26 balls, showing that he still had it left in him to make use of whatever number of balls he got.
On Monday, he took it up a notch. He came to the crease when Bangladesh were in a bit of trouble but the veteran was on the front foot from the very start.
And soon, he shifted to fourth gear. He reached his fifty off 33 balls, hitting five fours and a couple of sixes, which was his second-quickest. However, the batter then found a new gear, and was aided by some poor bowling from the Irish as he took 27 balls to reach triple figures from there, hitting nine fours in that period, ensuring that Bangladesh reached their highest-ever total in history.
Mushfiq’s innings, albeit the depleted and dumbfounded Ireland bowling attack, was a sumptuous one. His knock proved that he still had a lot more to give, even in a position that he has not treaded in some time.
And that was seen in Mushfiq’s innings. In the hunger of him. To score for fun. To score as many. And when called upon, he delivered. And delivered big time.
