ZCZC
BSP-13
CRICKET-MITHUN
Mithun hopes to end the century drought in International cricket
DHAKA, March 27, 2019 (BSS)–While he is believed to have the ingredients of being one of the mainstays of Bangladesh’s middle order, Mohammad Mithun is yet to play a big innings that could define him as the big thing of the country’s cricket.
On most of the occasion, he started well but couldn’t stretch it to a big innings despite getting several opportunities and therefore a century is still missing in his CV.
He has so far played 15 ODIs and scored four half-centuries with the highest of 63. In five Test matches he has one half-century while he is yet to hit a half-century in nine T20 International matches he played so far.
His stat clearly suggested that the way he flourished in the ODI cricket, but failed to stamp his mark in other formats. However what he gains so far that he has almost made sure his place in the Bangladesh’s World Cup bound squad.
While that is the reward of his consistency, he rued for the elusive century in the international meet, knowing that continuous failure to get past the three-mark figure could hurt his ambition of being a mainstay of Bangladesh’s middle order.
“No batsman wants to stop at 50’s,” Mithun said here today. “Everyone wants three-digit figure. It’s not enough to hit a 50 only. If I can hit a century, it will serve the purpose of the team and at the same time it will serve my purpose.”
Amid Bangladesh’s disappointing outing against New Zealand in the three-match ODI series in which they were whitewashed, Mithun was the only shining spot, hitting consecutive two half-centuries. He was ruled out for the third ODI due to his injury.
When Bangladesh’s top order suffered a collapse, Mithun held together the innings, hitting 62 and 57 in the first two ODIs to save the side from ultimate shamble. But in those two matches, he got his start but squandered the opportunity to hit three figure marks.
“But always it’s not possible (to hit century). However I will try not to miss the century when the opportunity comes again.”
“I was really disappointed not to make the innings longer in New Zealand when there was superb opportunity. I don’t know whether those two innings brought up any changes to me but I really try my best in every match,” he added.
Mithun revealed that series against New Zealand was challenging for the batsmen, especially when Tigers after playing T20 BPL had to straight go to ODI and Test mode.
“The main challenge was to adjust with the condition. The batsmen’s challenge was bigger than others because we had to play other format of cricket straight after playing T20 in BPL.”
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