Adelaide: Mohammad Mahmudullah (103) became first Bangladeshi batsman to score a century in the World Cup that helped throw England out of the tournament. Bangladesh 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, man of the match 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 steered the team out of trouble but also enabled the team to post a competitive total despite a poor start. The 29-year-old right-hander's hundred was also his first in 114 one-day internationals and came off 131 balls including seven fours and two sixes.
Mahmudullah surpassed the previous highest individual Bangladesh score at a World Cup of 95 set by Tamim Iqbal against Scotland in Nelson last week. He was eventually run out for 103 after putting on 141 for the fifth wicket with brother-in-law Mushfiqur Rahim (89).
"I'm very happy to get a few runs on the board. At the end we lost a couple of wickets, but it was a special innings for me," said Mahmudullah at the innings break. "When we were are batting we looked to bat normally, play according to the ball, look for the loose balls and just keep batting."
He added: "We have a chance but we need to bowl well and in good areas, and put effort into the line and length. "There is a little bit of grip and it is slowing so I think we are in the game."
