SL vs Ban 1st Test 1st day



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Bangladesh’s centurion is taking a look forward to making an even bigger score against Sri Lanka in Pallekele

Many would’ve been surprised at seeing Najmul Hossain Shanto’s name in the Bangladesh team sheet in Pallekele. He had averaged 11.14 in seven innings against West Indies after the coach and captain publicly backed him to be their No. 3. If truth be told, the insistence on Shanto over Shakib Al Hasan at No. 3 in the ODIs raised many eyebrows. Then he didn’t perform against West Indies, and his only innings in New Zealand saw him bowled off a half-tracker. A team that has missing their final eight matches finds it tough to respond to questions approximately an under-performing batter.

Whether not the whole answer, Shanto has provided a pattern of his ability with an unbeaten 126 on the first day against Sri Lanka. This maiden Test century couldn’t have come at a better time for someone under pressure to perform steadily.

By batting seven-and-a-half hours, Shanto did what most No. 3s world wide do on a true pitch against an inconsistent bowling attack. He helped the team get better from an early wicket, supported an aggressive batsman and then controlled the innings with the No. 4. He added 144 with Tamim Iqbal and 150 with Mominul Haque, neither dominating nor falling at the back of. Shanto called it an “organised” innings where he didn’t wish to hurry into anything. But it used to be lucid from his words that it took numerous effort to achieve this mindset after being so clumsy and wayward against West Indies couple of months ago.

“I do not believe it used to be approximately proving myself,” Shanto said. “I have worked tough in the final 5 – 6 months and despite the fact that I did not get the result, I believed in myself to score big runs. It used to be important for me not to hurry anything. I think I played a much organised innings. Of class lesson Tamim bhai batted very polite. He used to be scoring quickly, which allowed me to take a bit of time. His innings used to be helpful for me. I tried to bat according to the merit of the ball.”

“I think I used to be mentally relaxed today. I wasn’t too worried approximately scoring runs. It used to be more approximately enjoying the innings. I just reacted to each ball. I did not look at the scoreboard to check how much I made or how many balls I faced.”

The truth that he understands the value of patience used to be readily obvious in how he didn’t brain taking 38 balls to move from 90 to 100. When he in any case reached the three-figure mark, he smiled and gave a bow towards his French room.

Shanto said that he didn’t show numerous emotion because he believes he is not done in the innings. He also said that he tried to block out the out of doors noise all over his run of naughty form. “I believed I could make a big one so there wasn’t much to be excited approximately. I wish to bat long the following day and play more matches one day.

“Honestly, I don’t focus on what’s being said approximately me. I heard some stuff from my members of the family. Perhaps people imagine I be capable of do polite which is why there is numerous expectations from me,” he said.

Shanto said that the pitch, with a tinge of green, used to be good for batting after they rode out the first hour. He’s taking a look ahead to the second one day, and especially the first session, for a larger score for himself and the team.

“When I reached the middle, Tamim bhai told me I will have to bat knowing that it is a good wicket. He told me that I shouldn’t worry too much approximately the wicket. Here the new ball does a bit, as you saw even at the end of the day.

“This is a good wicket. I can try to bat so long as conceivable the following day by staying positive. We will have to bat polite in the first session on the second one day. Only after that, we can realize what would be a good first innings complete,” he said.

Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo’s Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84


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