The fourth day of the Kanpur Test witnessed a remarkable performance from Bangladesh’s left-handed batsman, Mominul Haq, as he scored a brilliant century that captivated the hearts of Bangladeshi fans. Despite the rain that had disrupted play for the first three days, Mominul’s impressive innings brought hope and inspiration to his team. This century marked the 13th of his Test career as he faced the formidable Indian bowling attack with composure and determination.
A Lighthearted Banter from Rishabh Pant
During the match, a lighthearted moment arose when Rishabh Pant, the Indian wicketkeeper, made a humorous remark about Mominul Haq’s short stature. Standing at just 5 feet 2 inches, Mominul became the target of Pant’s banter after a delivery from Ravichandran Ashwin struck Mominul’s helmet while he attempted a sweep shot. Pant jokingly suggested that Mominul could be dismissed LBW (leg before wicket) by the ball hitting his helmet. Rather than being distracted by the comment, Mominul showcased his skill and resilience, ultimately scoring his first Test century against India.
Path to a Remarkable Century
Mominul Haq entered the crease following the dismissal of opener Zakir Hasan, who was out for just 26 runs. Demonstrating exceptional patience and technique, Mominul batted at the pivotal number 3 position, expertly handling the challenges posed by India’s bowling lineup, particularly Ashwin. In stark contrast to previous encounters, where he struggled against Ashwin in the Chennai Test, Mominul found his rhythm in Kanpur. It took him 110 balls to reach his half-century, and he accelerated to his century by striking 16 fours and a six in just 62 additional balls. Remarkably, he remained unbeaten on 102 runs at lunch.
Rishabh Pant when Mominul was batting:
โHelmet se ek LBW le sakta hain bhai tu (you can take LBW from his helmet)โ.
โ Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) September 30, 2024
Fortune Smiles on Mominul
Lucky moments also accompanied Mominul during his innings. Notably, Rishabh Pant dropped a catch off an Ashwin delivery when Mominul was on 93 runs. Later, Virat Kohli also missed a catch when Mominul reached 95 runs, although it was a challenging effort at slip. These moments could easily have turned the tide for India, but Mominul capitalized on his opportunities and continued his remarkable innings.
A Historic Century
Mominul Haq’s century is particularly significant as it marks the first time in two decades that a foreign batsman has achieved this milestone in Kanpur. The last instance was in 2004 when South African player Andrew Hall scored a century in the same venue. Furthermore, this was only the third century scored by a foreign player in Kanpur over the last 40 years, underlining the uniqueness of Mominul’s achievement and his place in cricket history.
