‘After Bangladesh, I love playing in Sri Lanka’ - Mushfiqur Rahim after his century in the first Test

‌Bangladesh batter Mushfiqur Rahim played a challenging knock against Sri Lanka on day one of the first Test at the Galle International Stadium on Tuesday. The visitors were down at 45/3 when he walked into the middle in the 17th over of the game with another dismissal allowing Sri Lanka to have a go at the lower order.

But he held one end up and built a game-changing partnership of 247 along with skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto as the side ended at 292 without losing another wicket to finish the day on a high. He remained unbeaten on 105 overnight before going on to complete his 150 on the second day while Shanto was dismissed for 148. He said that he was pleased with the pair’s rearguard action as he sat down to meet the press after the first day’s play.

"I think I get a pretty good wicket every time I have played in Galle," Mushfiqur said. "I have seen how some other Tests here had a lot of purchase for spinners. We knew that one of us out of the seven batters had to capitalise on the first two days in Galle. If I am not wrong, myself and Ashraful bhai batted the whole day here in 2013. It was my plan this time too; I was telling Shanto that we need to bat the whole day."

With that century, Mushfiqur continued his love affair with Sri Lanka, completing his fourth hundred against them and his second on Sri Lankan soil. The wicketkeeper-batter has scored more than 1500 runs, his most against any nation, at an average of 58.03 with the number going to 71.00 for Test matches played in Sri Lanka.

"After Bangladesh, I love playing in Sri Lanka," Mushfiqur said. "There is always a sporting wicket, whether it is the red or white ball. If you apply your strength here, you can do well - whether you are a batter, quick bowler or spinner. I was telling this to a few of our young players who are playing their first Test in Galle.

"I like to play with wind around. I have to adjust when the newer ball turns a bit, or against the older ball. It is really special to play in Galle. I love batting here."

The batter has been going through a lean patch with no scores of 50-plus in his last seven Tests after his Player of the Match winning 191 against Pakistan in the first Test in Rawalpindi last year. And he was also made to work hard as he scored only five boundaries en route to his three-figure mark.

"It is obviously a satisfying effort. Nobody wants to get any less runs after playing for so many years for your country," he said. "You can't get runs in every game, but when you do the right things over and over, hopefully the big score will come soon enough. When it does come around, you have to make sure to make it count.”

"These are not easy runs. I took a lot of time in the nineties, as they were not giving me a freebie," Mushfiqur said. "It shows that they are a tough side to score against. They made smart bowling changes and field placements. I trust my process when I am batting with control. You have to bat patiently against them.

"I think rotating the strike is important - maybe as much as hitting fours or sixes - especially when there's a left-hander and a right-hander in the middle. This is why we are always in training so that we remain fit,” he concluded.