Captain Nazmul Scores Ninth Test Century

In the 53rd over of the match, bowled by Mohammad Abbas, Bangladesh Test Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto experienced both the joy and cruelty of cricket on consecutive deliveries. The episode once again underlined the reality for a batter at the crease: life at the wicket can end in a single ball.

On the first delivery of the over, Shanto struck a brilliant cover drive to send the ball past the boundary, celebrating his ninth Test century. He had not even scored a half-century against Pakistan before this innings. On Friday, in the opening day of the Dhaka Test, he moved from 97 to 101 with that boundary. He jumped in the air in celebration, blew a kiss into the air, and raised his bat toward the stands, acknowledging the spectators who had braved the harsh Baisakhi sun. Commentators lauded his innings.

But the very next ball changed everything. Abbas bowled a good-length delivery that nipped back slightly. Perhaps relaxed by the joy of reaching a century, Shanto lost concentration for a moment. He missed the line completely while attempting to play the incoming ball, and Pakistan appealed strongly. Captain Shan Masood opted for the review.

The replay showed no bat involved as the ball struck the pad directly. Hawkeye confirmed it would have hit the top of the stumps. The screen turned red, signalling the decision. Shanto walked back for 101 off 130 balls, ending his innings on the very next delivery after reaching three figures. He struck 12 fours and two sixes. His 170-run partnership with Mominul Haque also came to an end.

After Bangladesh lost two wickets for 31 runs, Shanto and Mominul steadied the innings. No further wicket fell before lunch. Just before the tea interval, Shanto completed his century with a boundary off the first ball of the over. Had he and Mominul simply seen out the remaining deliveries of the session, Bangladesh could have gone through the second session without losing a wicket. Abbas, who had bowled 15 wicketless overs, struck at a crucial moment just before tea, removing Shanto.

A similar dismissal had occurred in Sylhet last November against Ireland. Then, Shanto reached his century with a double off a sweep against Andy McBrine, only to fall leg-before two balls later to the same bowler.

Before the Dhaka Test, Shanto’s last international appearance came in the third ODI against New Zealand in Chattogram, where he scored 105. The opposition, ball color, and venue have all changed since then, but the century remained constant in his record. So did an old pattern, his innings rarely lasts long after reaching three figures.