A century to crown Mushfiqur’s 100th Test

When has a single run ever felt so long in Bangladesh cricket? From the fading light of the previous evening to the soft morning sun of a new day, the longing for that one run lingered.

Excitement mixed with tension, anticipation sharpened every moment. And at last, on the ninth delivery of the morning, the moment arrived. In the milestone match of his career, Mushfiqur Rahim stepped firmly into the pages of history.

This Test belonged to Mushfiqur long before he reached three figures. His 100th Test had already been wrapped in tributes, celebrations and nostalgic recollections of a storied career. With a century, he completed the occasion with poetic symmetry—turning the match into an unmistakably Mushfiqur-centred spectacle.

The previous day, an edge-of-the-seat ending had left him unbeaten on 99. He began the new morning on strike, needing just one run. But the first over from left-arm spinner Matthew Humphreys gave him nothing. One delivery produced a loud appeal, another narrowly missed taking the outside edge. Anxiety and expectation only grew.

But it didn't drag on for long. There was no anti-climax. On the first ball of the next over, Liton Das took a single off pacer Jordan Neill. Two balls later, Mushfiqur tucked one behind square and finally coloured his innings with that long-awaited run.

Over the years, Mushfiqur has celebrated many centuries with flair. This time, for this special milestone, the celebration remained understated—his familiar gesture and a wide grin were ornament enough.

His stay at the crease did not continue much longer. Humphreys produced a sharply bouncing delivery, forcing an edge, and Ireland captain Andrew Balbirnie took a fine catch at second slip. Mushfiqur departed for 106.

When he had come to the crease the previous day, Bangladesh were wobbling at 95 for 3. But crises have been familiar companions throughout his career, and time and again his bat has brought calm. This innings, too, came with composure. He absorbed pressure effortlessly, stitching stabilising stands with Mominul Haque first and then Liton Das.

His intent was evident throughout—this was an innings built on determination. He avoided unnecessary risk, even shelving many of his favourite strokes. No reverse sweep, no slog sweep, no scoop; even the conventional sweep came out only sparingly. Patience and resolve paved his way to three figures.

With his 13th Test hundred, Mushfiqur joined Mominul as Bangladesh's highest century-maker. In the 150-year history of Test cricket, 83 players have played 100 matches before him—but only 10 had managed a century in their milestone game.

The first cricketer to reach the landmark, Colin Cowdrey, scored a century in his 100th Test. There is a parallel between him and Mushfiqur: in 1968, against Australia at Edgbaston, Cowdrey ended the day unbeaten in the nineties and completed his century the next morning before being dismissed for 104.

Twenty-one years later, Javed Miandad joined him. A few months on, Gordon Greenidge followed.

Then came a decade-long gap before England's Alec Stewart added his name in 2000.

Inzamam-ul-Haq went past everyone in 2005, scoring 184 against India—the highest individual score in a 100th Test until then.

A year later, Ricky Ponting set a benchmark still unmatched: he remains the only batter to score centuries in both innings of his 100th Test.

South African greats Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla joined the club in 2012 and 2017 respectively.

In 2021, Joe Root surpassed Inzamam's mark, crafting a double century—218 runs in Chennai, the first double hundred ever scored in a 100th Test.

The following year, David Warner also made a double, finishing exactly on 200.

Mushfiqur could not climb to such heights, but the ground he covered will remain unforgettable.