Mahmudullah unveils another big-match classic

Back-to-back hundreds against England and New Zealand in the 2015 World Cup seemed to have cemented Mahmudullah's spot in the top four of Bangladesh's ODI line-up. After years of playing the finisher's role, he now had the canvas he needed to express his full range of skills. A lacklustre tour of New Zealand late last year, however, resulted in a move back down the order, and by the time the Champions Trophy began, he had returned to occupying the finisher's role.

Mahmudullah batted at No. 6 again, on Friday, but his task was like nothing he might have expected. Chasing 266, Bangladesh had slipped to 33 for 4 in 11.4 overs, and were struggling to score or survive against the pace and swing of Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Adam Milne. It was a situation that called for a calm head and the ability to play the ball late. Mahmudullah possessed both. It also helped that Shakib Al Hasan, another batsman of vast experience and ability, was at the other end.

What followed was a feast of quality batting under pressure, as both batsmen responded coolly to whatever New Zealand threw at them. They were particularly severe on the overused short ball, scoring a combined 63 off 54 balls with the cut and the pull. The two batsmen ran neck-and-neck right through the partnership, with Mahmudullah overtaking Shakib in the 80s before the left-hander, grabbing a majority of the strike through the 90s, took over to reach his hundred first.

Shakib smashed a string of boundaries after getting to three figures, before he was bowled trying to hit one across the line. Mahmudullah then went to his hundred by pulling Boult for a one-bounce four, and watched from the non-striker's end as Mosaddek Hossain edged the winning runs off Milne.

By the end of the 26th over, Mahmudullah and Shakib had repaired some of the early damage done by New Zealand's quicks, and had played themselves in by milking eight straight overs from James Neesham, Mitchell Santner and Corey Anderson. The target was still 155 runs away, though, and the required rate was well above six an over. Kane Williamson brought back Milne, his quickest bowler, to try and get that one wicket that would swing the match back New Zealand's way.

Pretty much everything was right about the fourth ball of Milne's over, pitching on a good length and close to off stump. Mahmudullah, though, was seeing the ball beautifully, and it wasn't swinging like it had been at the start. Cue a confident stride forward, timed to perfection to get his weight moving into an on-the-up drive with the straightest of bats to bisect mid-off and extra-cover.