Mushfiqur Rahim and Liton Das put on a record 253-run partnership to dig Bangladesh out of the hole, recovering from 24/5 to 277/5 in the Dhaka Test against Sri Lanka on May 23.
The Bangla Tigers were in a big trouble, having been reduced to 24/5 inside seven overs but the duo then batted through the day, adding 253 runs to take the side to 277/5 at the end of the day one.
Sri Lankan pace duo of Kasun Rajitha and Asitha Fernando ripped through the Bangladesh top order, sending half the side back inside the first seven overs. However, veteran Rahim and Das offered resistance to dig the team out of the situation. The former scored unbeaten 115 while the latter added 135 notout.
Bangladesh head coach Russell Domingo hailed the partnership as one of the best he’s seen. He was impressed with the skill and character shown by the duo to rescue the team from such situation.
“It is one of the best partnerships I have seen as a coach in Tests. We were 20 for five and under a lot of pressure. It was an amazing effort by those two batters.
Obviously, we didn’t start well this morning with a couple of false shots along with a couple of good deliveries. Test cricket is hard but those guys showed amazing skill and character to get us in this good position,”
he told Cricbuzz.
This was Liton Das’ third century in Test cricket – all of which have come in the last seven months. Domingo revealed that Das has developed a good routine to train himself for Test cricket and has worked on his technique as well. He believes Das has a lot to offer and can bat higher up the order in future.
“I think technique is a very important aspect in international cricket. I think Litton has evolved his game. He has developed a very good batting technique. He has found a good way to prepare for Tests in the last year and a half, knowing when to do the work and when not to do the work. He has developed a good routine,”
Domingo added.
The 35-year-old Mushfiqur was going through a bad run of form, scoring only 150 runs in nine innings prior to this Test series. But he has now brought up second consecutive hundred in the series, following his 105 in the first Test. Domingo said that Rahim’s grit and determination to do well has served him well and added that quality players need to be supported when they are going through a bad patch.
“He has amazing determination and a desire to do well. It is all about supporting players who are going through a bad run. You don’t just get rid of quality players like that if they are going through a slump. Just be patient and back their ability,”
the head coach stated.
As far as the series is concerned, the second Test is a decider after the first one ended in a draw. The last two bilateral Test series between these two teams have been won by Sri Lanka. Bangladesh would be desperate to clinch this series at home.
