Asia Cup 2018: 5 Best performances of Mushfiqur Rahim in ODIs

Mushfiqur Rahim is one of the most popular Bangladeshi cricketers today. The wicket-keeper is known for playing valuable knocks whenever the team loses early wickets and ends up in deep trouble.

Rahim has featured in 188 matches for his country and scored 4972 runs at an average of 33.82. He has 6 centuries and 29 half-centuries under the belt and is definitely one of the players to watch out for in this Asia Cup 2018.

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#5 106 vs Pakistan, 2015

Rahim scored a quick-fire 106 to take Bangladesh to 329

In 2015, Bangladesh hosted Pakistan for a 3-match ODI series. In the first ODI, after winning the toss, the hosts opted to bat first. Rahim who came out to bat very early after losing two wickets in quick succession, went on to score a quick-fire 106 off just 77 balls, accompanied by 13 fours and 2 sixes.

He stitched a 178-run partnership with Tamim Iqbal for the third wicket and took Bangladesh to a huge total of 329. The latter scored 132 off 135 balls and registered his fifth ODI century, his first against Pakistan.

Pakistan in return, kept losing wickets at regular intervals and got dismissed all-out for 250 runs. Taskin Ahmed and Arafat Sunny both came up big and picked up 3 wickets each. Rahim was given the Man of the Match for his blistering innings.

#4 107 vs Zimbabwe, 2015

Rahim's century helped Bangladesh defeat Zimbabwe

Bangladesh hosted Zimbabwe for a 3-match ODI series in 2015. In the first ODI, after losing the toss and batting first, the hosts lost two early wickets and were left reeling at 30-2. The wicket-keeper then took over and built key partnerships with Tamim Iqbal and Sabbir Rahman.

He ended up accumulating 107 off 109 with 9 fours and a six. Sabbir Rahman too added a half-century scoring 57 runs off 58 balls before he got run-out. This was Mushfiqur's 4th ODI century. The hosts set a target of 274 for the visitors.

In return, Zimbabwe were rattled by Shakib Al Hasan who picked up a fifer after conceding just 47 runs in 10 overs. The visitors were all-out for meagre 128. Rahim was presented the Man of the Match trophy.

#3 110* vs South Africa, 2017

Rahim once again shone with a century

Bangladesh toured South Africa for a 3-match ODI series in 2017. In the first ODI, the visitors won the toss and chose to bat first. After losing wickets early in the innings, Rahim once again played a very important knock scoring 110 off 116 balls. It included 11 fours and 2 sixes and the hosts scored a chaseable total of 278 for the loss of 7 wickets in 50 overs.

When the hosts came out to bat first, it was Amla and De Kock's unbeaten stand of 282 runs that took the game away from the visitors. De Kock exploded for 168 off 145 and Amla scored 110 off 112.

Albeit Rahim shone with a century in the first innings, the bowlers could not deliver and the team suffered a very embarrassing defeat.

#2 117 vs India, 2014

Rahim's 117 helped Bangladesh post a respectable score

In the 2nd ODI of the Asia Cup 2014, Rahim once again played a scintillating knock to help Bangladesh post a respectable score. After winning the toss and chosing to bat first, the Bangladesh team lost two quick wickets and were struggling at 49-2. Rahim then went on to build a 133-run partnership with Anamul Haque for the third wicket.

He scored 117 off 113 balls with 7 fours and 2 sixes and played a very calculated innings. This was Rahim's second ODI century and with wickets falling at one end, it was only the skipper who stood tall and played a valuable innings.

However, India chased it down with Kohli slamming a century of his own and Rahim's century once again ended up in a losing cause for Bangladesh.

#1 144 vs Sri Lanka, 2018

Rahim launched a scathing attack on Sri Lankan bowlers

In the opener of the Asia Cup 2018, Rahim played a remarkable knock to get Bangladesh to a respectable score, after batting first. Albeit Bangladesh lost wickets early in the innings, Rahim scored 144 off just 150 balls, accompanied by 11 fours and 4 sixes. He stitched a very valuable 133-run partnership for the third wicket with Mohammad Mithun and went on to register his highest ever ODI score.

The Sri Lankans in their chase got bundled out for a paltry score of just 124 runs. The skipper Mortaza, Mustafizur and Hasan Miraz all picked up 2 wickets each. No one could get it going for Sri Lanka and 262 proved too much to chase for the batsmen.

It was Rahim's heroics that set the platform for the bowlers to come and dismantle the opposition battling lineup and Rahim was rightly adjudged the Man of the Match.