What was Mahmudullah pointing at after scoring his hundred?

Bangladesh had a tough hurdle ahead of them to keep their hopes of making it to the semi-finals pf the Champions Trophy alive; they had to beat New Zealand in the last league match. They bowled well to restrict the Kiwis to 265/8 in 50 overs but the job was just half done. Their batsmen now needed to bat against a strong Black Caps pace attack and chase the target down with rain expected to interfere with the outcome. When they were pushed to the wall Mahmudullah and Shakib Al Hasan stood up for the team and scored dual centuries to script a historic win.

Their chase appeared to be Mount Everest when Tim Southee picked three early wickets and along with Adam Milne reduced them to 33/4 with the batting star of the tournament thus far Tamim Iqbal out for a duck. It was then that the duo of Mahmudullah and Shakib got together and started rebuilding the innings.

They defied the Kiwi attack and then started to get the runs. Steadily the ship sailed through the stormy waters and they were now rowing towards the finish line. Shakib was the first to get to triple figures – his 7th hundred in ODI cricket and his partner achieved his 3rd and all of them have come in ICC ODI events.

After getting to his century the 31-year-old bowed down at the pitch and then rose up to point at something on his bat. It was a particular autograph on the back of his bat but no one knew what Mahmudullah was trying to convey. Was it from a legend who had inspired him to do well in the CT?

Son Raeid’s request

As it turns out his six-year-old son Raeid had asked his father to play with that bat in the tournament. Mahmudullah was coming here on the back of poor form and selection dilemma; the selectors were even considering his exclusion from the squad ahead of the Champions Trophy.

Mahmudullah was sent in to bat as low as No.6, 7 in the first two games and didn’t have an opportunity to showcase his skills. When the occasion arrived he proved why he is considered a vital cog in this surging Bangladeshi team. Towards the end of the chase, Shakib lost his wicket on 114 but the right-hander stayed there till the end to see the team over the line.

It was this win coupled with England thrashing Australia in their last league game that has booked Bangladesh a berth in the semi-final where they will meet India on June 15 at Edgbaston.