Mushfiqur Rahim and Mohammad Mahmudullah record second-highest fifth wicket partnership for Bangladesh in ODIs

Rahim, Mahmudullah put up record stand

Mushfiqur Rahim and Mohammad Mahmudullah added 134 for the fifth wicket and bailed out Bangladesh from the danger which was induced by fall of four quick wickets. Varun Arora looks at Bangladesh’s highest fifth wicket partnerships. 

Bangladesh had elected to bat first in the fourth One-Day International (ODI), but were soon reduced to 37 for four after 13 overs. This also included the precious wicket of Shakib Al Hasan. The Bangladesh openers, who have been quite consistent throughout the series, were also back in the pavilion after adding a mere 14. It looked like Zimbabwe had finally found form and was at a chance to bowl Bangladesh out cheaply.

But Mushfiqur Rahim and Mohammad Mahmudullah got together at the crease and stitched a 134-run stand for the fifth wicket, which elevated Bangladesh to a respectable total of 256 for eight, which had once seemed out of reach.

Mahmudullah had started slowly, requiring 12 balls to open his account. Then he opened up, hitting two boundaries in the 17th over. The repair work started after that: both men not only hung around, and also scored with ease. Rahim was the more expressive among the two; he managed to reach his fifty at a run a ball. He carried in his flamboyant style and pitched in with few more boundaries. The 100-run stand between both batsmen arrived in the 33rd over.

Rahim was finally dismissed at 76 in the 38th over when he tried to slog sweep Tafadzwa Kamungozi but top edged it to Elton Chigumbura at covers. Mahmudullah continued to guide Bangladesh and remained unbeaten at 82.

(Varun Arora is a reporter with CricketCountry. He started as a medium-fast bowler, converted to an opening batsman but finally settled with his passion of writing about the game. His Twitter handle is @varunjgd)