Mahmudul Hasan Reflects on Career-Best 171, Disappointed by Missed Double-Hundred

Mahmudul Hasan Joy was disappointed that he had not achieved his maiden double-hundred, but he had a career-best of 171 against Ireland. He had just been dropped from the national side after six months of lean form, but was happy to take a decisive part after more than a year out of the team.

"I'm happy to return to the Bangladesh team after quite some time," Mahmudul said. "I was able to play a big innings for the team. It would have been better if it were a double-hundred. A little disappointed on that front."

The Bangladesh Tigers programme, he believes, played a pivotal role in regaining his form. "The NCL T20 hundred helped me boost myself more, because I performed very well there, and then I also had a good performance in the NCL four-day matches," Mahmudul added. "I am trying to do the same thing here as I did there - carrying the innings. I won't do anything different. I'll just carry on in the same way I played in the last NCL."

The off-season camp with Bangladesh Tigers further aided Mahmudul's resurgence. "I worked hard in the Tigers camp. I got a lot of help from the local coaches. [Mohammad] Ashraful bhai has just joined us. I haven't worked much with him before. He gave a couple of points. [Mohammad] Salahuddin sir knows me well. I didn't make any big changes. They just told me to play my natural game, and to keep performing the way I have been."

This knock helped Bangladesh attain 587/8, putting the team in a strong position. On the third morning, he fell, although Bangladesh kept on dominating. Najmul Hossain Shanto made his eighth Test century, and Litton Das chipped in with a speedy 60. Their collaboration contributed 98 runs at 5.49 runs per over, which is the display of aggression, as desired by Bangladesh in its middle-order.

"Shanto bhai bats very aggressively whenever he comes in," Mahmudul said. "When we give a good start from the top, it becomes easy for those who bat later, like Mushfiq[ur Rahim] bhai, Shanto bhai, and others. The scoring option is very good then. I'd say it was a very good innings."

With five wickets remaining, Ireland hopes for a miracle as they return with 215 more runs needed to prevent a follow-on. There is building pressure with Bangladesh pushing towards a 1-0 series against Ireland.