Mushfiqur stranded on 99 in 100th Test

Dhaka, 19 Nov - Mushfiqur Rahim stood on the brink of joining an elite list of batters who have scored a century in their 100th Test, finishing Day 1 of the second and final Test against Ireland unbeaten on 99 at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium today.

The experienced batter ended the Day 1 on 99, carefully navigating a disciplined Irish bowling, choosing caution over aggression as the day drew to a close.

He will resume his innings on the second morning with a chance to become only the 11th batter in Test history to reach the milestone.

England’s Colin Cowdrey opened the elite list by hitting a century against Australia in his 100th Test in 1968.

Later Pakistan great Javed Miandad, Bangladesh’s former coach Gordon Greenidge, England’s Alex Stewart, Pakistan’s another great Inzamam-ul-Haq, Australia’s Ricky Ponting, South Africa’s Graeme Smith and  Hashim Amla, England’s Joe Root and Australia’s David Warner graced the list.

Joe Root and David Warner, the last two batters of the list, went on to score double century eventually with Root making 218 in Chennai Test against India while Warner hitting exact 200 against South Africa in Melbourne.

Ponting is the only batter to hit centuries in both innings of his 100th Test, a feat he achieved against South African in Sydney in 2006.

Mushfiqur began the final over of the day—the 90th—needing just three runs to complete his century but managed only two. 

He and his partner Liton Das looked for an appeal to the umpires for an additional over, arguing that light was sufficient, but their request was denied.BSS