Top three Test knocks of Mahmudullah – Bangladesh’s saviour

Bangladesh all-rounder Mahmudullah has suddenly decided to retire from Test cricket. He is currently playing the Test match against Zimbabwe in Harare. Many people have expressed surprise over his decision. Let’s look at the three best knocks of Mahmudullah’s Test career.

101* vs Zimbabwe, 2018

This was during the second Test of Zimbabwe tour of Bangladesh in 2018. The home side opted to bat first after winning the toss. They posted a big total of 522/7 with the help of a double century from Mushfiqur Rahim (219) and a 161-run knock from Mominul Haque. In response to this total, Zimbabwe scored 304 runs, with Brendan Taylor hitting a hundred. Taijul Islam picked up 5 wickets for 107 runs in 40.3 overs.

In the second innings, Bangladesh had a horrible start as they lost the first 4 wickets for only 25 runs. From there, Mahmudullah played a wonderful knock and scored a century. He was unbeaten with 101 runs off 122 balls with the help of 4 fours and 2 sixes. Chasing 443 runs in the fourth innings, Zimbabwe was dismissed for 224 runs, losing the match by 218 runs.

136 vs West Indies, 2018

This was in the second Test of the West Indies tour of Bangladesh in 2018. The hosts batted first after winning the toss and put up a big total of 508 runs. Mahmudullah was the top scorer for the team with 136 runs off 242 balls. He hit 10 fours in his superb knock and was the last batsman to be dismissed in the first innings. In response to this total, West Indies were bundled out for only 111 runs in the first innings. Later in the second innings, after they were asked to follow on, the visitors could score only 213 runs, losing the match by an innings and 184 runs.

150* vs Zimbabwe, 2021  

In the one-off Test of the Bangladesh tour of Zimbabwe, Mahmudullah smashed a brilliant hundred. The visitors looked in trouble after losing the first six wickets for only 132 runs. However, Mahmudullah who came to bat at number 8 played a crucial knock of 150 runs off 278 balls. Bangladesh scored 468 runs in their first innings. The hosts were dismissed for 276 runs in response to this total with Mehidy Hasan Miraz taking 5 wickets for 82 runs. In the second innings, Shadman Islam and Najmul Hossain Shanto smashed centuries as the visiting side set a target of 477 runs for Zimbabwe in the fourth innings.