DHAKA, Dec 31, 2020 (BSS)-It won’t be an exaggeration if the year is dubbed as Liton Das’s year in Bangladesh cricket. He is undoubtedly a one of the most talented players that Bangladesh has ever got in its cricket history but for some reasons, his performance couldn’t translate the immense ability in him, largely due to his inconsistency.
The occasional flashes of brilliance are always there as Liton showed the capability of destroying any kind of bowling on his given days. But this year, which turned out to be a frustrating year for world cricket, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, saw Liton coming up with full glory.
Liton Das struck a highest individual score by a Bangladeshi batsman in this year-a knock of 176, which was also the highest individual score by a batsman in ODI cricket in 2020.
The elegant opener who smashed 16 fours and eight sixes for his 143 ball-176, his third ODI century and second in the three-match series against Zimbabwe in March, grabbed the record from his opening partner Tamim, who struck 158 runs only in the previous match of the series.
In that match, Tamim who scored 128 and Liton combined for a 292-run partnership, comfortably the highest for Bangladesh in any wicket, surpassing the 224 by Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah for the fifth wicket in a thrilling victory against New Zealand at Cardiff in 2017 ICC Champions Trophy.
Their record-breaking partnership helped Bangladesh put up a hefty 322-3 in a game, which turned out to be 43-overs a side after a spell of shower put a brake on the match for two hours and 38 minutes.
Tamim-Liton pair also broke 21-year old record opening partnership by Shahriar Hossain Biddut and Mehrab Hossain Opee, who shared 224, also against Zimbabwe in 1999.
Liton scored 311 runs in three-match series at a staggering average off 155.50, which is the highest by any Bangladeshi batsman in a calendar year. Tamim Iqbal came agonizingly close also in this yet by averaging 155 after scoring 310 against Zimbabwe in three matches.
But Liton edged his senior mate by playing 176 runs knock, which was the highest individual score by a Bangladeshi batsman and also the highest score in the 2020.
“His stroke play is always eye-catching. Cricket looks a beautiful game, when Liton Das excels in the crease but the most important factor was the consistency, which he showed this year,” Khaled Mahmud Sujon, BCB director and one of the most respected coaches in the country said.
“Bangladesh will be immensely benefitted if Liton continues this kind of consistency. If he remains consistent, Bangladesh will be a very good side in any format of the cricket.”
He is dubbed as consistent not only for that he scored just in just three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe. After a lengthy Covid-19-induced break, he came back with same vigor and tenacity that only an outstanding player can show. He kept making runs in BCB President’s Cup-a one-day format tournament and Bangabandhu T20 Cup. In that T20 format, he became the highest scorer with 393 runs in 10 matches.
“His consistency is the good thing us. Hopefully he will remain consistent and thus serve Bangladesh,” national selector Habibul Bashar Sumon said.