Mushfiq first to reach 5k runs in Test for Tigers

There were two reasons for Mushfiqur Rahim to celebrate on day four of the first Test in Chattogram against Sri Lanka on Wednesday. He eclipsed the 5000-run barrier in Tests during the first session's play, becoming the first batter from the country to do so. 

The veteran fist-bumped with Liton Das after the feat and then in the second session's play, he notched his hundred before Tea and raised his bat in celebration. With a couple of runs off Asitha Fernando, Mushfiqur went past 68-run mark and achieved the historic feat in front of a near audience-less galleries at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. Only in the western gallery where tarpaulin is installed, saw the presence of spectators, taking refuge from the scorching sun, who were there to cheer for Mushfiqur alongside his teammates in the dressing room.  Both Mushfiqur and Tamim were on the verge of achieving the feat before the Chattogram Test. Tamim, despite being behind in the race before the start of the Test, had closed in on the landmark score with a magnificent ton, his 10th Test century, on the third day. However, Tamim, after suffering a cramp, had to retire hurt on 133 off 217 deliveries, just 19 runs shy of the 5000-run mark. With Tamim unable to continue batting after the tea break on Day 3, Mushfiqur was able to reach the feat early. Mushfiqur, who made his debut at Lord's against England in 2005, was the frontrunner to achieve the feat as he was on 4932 runs in 80 Tests before the start of the Chattogram Test. The experienced campaigner, on way to the landmark score, also brought up his 26th Test fifty while stitching together a hundred-run stand with Liton.

The ton on this match was Mushfiqur's most patient ton. The eighth Test ton of his career came in 270 deliveries, batting over seven hours in two days. A 165-run stand with Liton saw Bangladesh put runs on the board and after Liton and Tamim Iqbal's dismissal soon after Tea, Mushfiqur put on 36 more runs for the sixth-wicket stand with Shakib Al Hasan. After Shakib departed, Mushfiqur completed his ton. His previous slowest ton had been against India in Hyderabad in 2017, where he got to the three-figure mark in 235 deliveries. Only one rash shot had come in the morning session but overall, Mushfiqur was a picture of patience. His marathon innings contained only four boundaries, which also is the least number of boundaries he ever struck while getting to a ton. Mushfiqur also ended a two-year wait for a century. His last hundred had been in 2020 when he struck an unbeaten 203. He got close to a ton but fell on 91 against Pakistan last year in Chattogram. His last nine innings had seen just one fifty and the patient Mushfiqur showed his relief and what it meant to get back amongst the runs in Test through his celebrations.