Mushfiqur hits fastest century as Bangladesh pile up 349 against Ireland in second ODI

Mushfiqur goes ballistic as Tigers surpass their record total from the last game

Mushfiqur Rahim blazed to the fastest century by a Bangladesh batter to top off a splendid show with the bat as the Tigers surpassed their record ODI total from the last game and posted a daunting 349 for 6 against Ireland in Sylhet.

Asked to bat first in overcast conditions on Monday, Litton Das (70) provided impetus with a 101-run second-wicket stand with Najmul Hossain Shanto (73) at the Sylhet International Stadium.

After Curtis Campher (1-73) and Graham Hume (2-58) sent the pair back in the hutch to reduce Bangladesh to 190 for 4, Mushfiqur came out and carved up the Irish bowling.

He clubbed 14 boundaries and two sixes while stitching a blistering 128 off 78 balls with Towhid Hridoy, who followed up his 92 on debut with a deft 34-ball 49. Mushfiqur also became the third Bangladesh batter to score 7,000 runs in the format.

Earlier, Litton also passed 2,000 runs in the 50-over game.

Bangladesh were off to a cautious start as Mark Adair (1-60) and Hume bowled three maidens in the six initial overs. Birthday boy Tamim Iqbal got a start but left much to be desired when he ran himself out for 23.

Litton, who survived an lbw shout in the first over, then got into the groove and, with Shanto timing the ball sweetly at the other end, slammed three fours and as many sixes in his 71-ball knock.

After Litton departed, Shanto added 39 more to the total with Shakib Al Hasan (17) but Ireland fought back by taking them out in quick succession. And, in came Mushfiqur.

Mushfiqur showed signs of his ominous form during his 26-ball 44 in the first game and picked up where he left off. The scoring rate took off the moment he came into the middle.

Mushfiqur and Hridoy sent the Irish fielders into complete disarray by piercing the gaps with almost every shot and pushing Bangladesh from 250-300 in the space of only 19 balls.

After Adair took Hridoy out a run short of his second half-century, Bangladesh raced past 339, their previous highest total, in the last over. Mushfiqur then brought up his century in the last ball of the innings with a single to surpass Shakib’s 63-ball ton against Zimbabwe in 2009.