Adelaide, March 9 (IANS) Mohammad Mahmudullah (103) became first Bangladeshi batsman to score a century in the World Cup as the team posted 275/7 in 50 overs against England in a Pool A match at the Adelaide Oval here on Monday.
Coming at the fall of two wickets for just eight runs in the third over, Mahumudullah held the innings together and scored his maiden One-Day International (ODI) ton. When two more wickets tumbled with his team at 99/4 in the 22nd over, he forged a 141-run partnership with Mushfiqur Rahim (89).
The right-hander duo not only wriggled the team out of trouble but also enabled the team to post a competitive total despite a poor start.
At the start, pacer James Anderson starred for England. The right-armer forced an edge from left-hander Imrul Kayes (2) to Chris Jordan at third slip.
Tamim Iqbal (2) also managed an edge in Anderson’s second over. The left-handed batsman failed to handle a delivery that was moving away from him and it landed in the hands of Joe Root at second slip.
It left the Asian side reeling at 8/2 and in walked Mahmudullah. He joined Saumya Sarkar (40) in the middle and they exercised a damage control with a 86-run stand.
With five fours and a six, Sarkar was looking good before he edged a Jordan delivery to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler in the 21st over.
In the next over, experienced Shakib Al Hasan (2) perished against off-spinner Moeen Ali to leave his side in deep waters at 99/4.
Former skipper Rahim joined Mahmudullah and the duo kept the scoreboard ticking. They upped the ante in the later part of their partnership. Rahim was more aggressive as he hit eight fours and a six in the 77 balls he faced.
He was a perfect foil for the 29-year-old Mahmudullah, who relied more on singles and twos and punished weak deliveries.
The 29-year-old Mahumudullah hit seven fours and a six to notch up his 100 in 131 balls. He was run out by a direct throw from Chris Woakes.
After his fall with his team on 240/5 in the 46th over, Rahim also lost his wicket in the 48th over while trying to accelerate. England bowlers bowled well at the death and minimised the damage.
Anderson and Jordan picked two wickets apiece, while Chris Broad and Ali took a wicket each.
Brief scores: Bangladesh 275/7 in 50 overs (Mohammad Mahmudullah 103, Mushfiqur Rahim 89; James Anderson 2-45, Chris Jordan 2-59) vs England.
