Mushfiqur Rahim kept millions of cricket fans in Bangladesh waiting for 17 long hours. On Wednesday, he could not complete his century despite playing 187 balls, not taking risks. He left the whole country waiting for just one run. Was Mushfiqur himself at ease last night? Was he able to sleep properly, out of excitement or tension?

Finally, the great moment came. At the beginning of the second day of the Mirpur Test, Mushfiqur Rahim reached the desired milestone by playing 195 balls off the third ball of the second over. Mr. Dependable took the 11th place in world cricket as the century scorer in his 100th Test. And undoubtedly, it was the first for Bangladesh. Mushfiqur Rahim, the first Bangladeshi cricketer to score a century in that Test in his first 100th Test, has written his name in golden letters in the pages of history.

He is Bangladesh's top scorer in Tests. Before this match in Mirpur, Mushfiqur Rahim had 6351 runs in 182 innings of 99 Tests. 12 centuries. 27 half-centuries; but why is his run very low in the milestone matches. Milestones - his first Test, Test number 50 and Test number 75. History and statistics show that he does not have any big scores next to his name in any of those three Tests.

20 years ago, Mushfiqur's total in the first Test at Lord's was 22 in the first innings. Batting at number 6 in the first innings, Mushfiqur faced 56 balls for 85 minutes and hit three boundaries before being bowled by English pacer Matthew Hoggard for 19 runs. In the second innings, he scored even less; just 3 runs. This time, Mushfiqur was out by English fast bowler Andrew Flinttop.

The same situation was in the 50th and 75th Tests. Mushfiqur played his 50th Test at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka; against England (October 28-30, 2016). He could not reach double figures in either innings in that match. The first time he went back to 4 and the next time he went back to 9.

After that, Mushfiqur could not make his 75th Test memorable either. The time was July 2021. In the first innings of that Test against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club Ground, Bangladesh's top scorer in Tests was caught in the trap of being caught LBW for 11 runs by Zimbabwean fast bowler Mujarabani. He did not have to bat again in the second innings. Shadman Islam (115) and Nazmul Hossain Shantor (117) scored double centuries as Bangladesh declared their innings at 284 for 1 and won by a big margin of 220 runs.

It was to be seen what Mushfiqur would do in his 100th Test. Will he stop at 19, 3, 4, 9 and 11 again, becoming the most successful willow batsman in Bangladesh cricket? Or will he shine with the bat in the milestone match of 100 Tests and become 'immortal'?

In the 148-year history of Test cricket, only 10 batsmen have previously achieved the feat of scoring a century in their 100th Test: Colin Crowder, Javed Miandad, Gordon Greenidge, Alec Stewart, Ricky Ponting, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Joe Root, Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla, David Warner.

So the fans were wondering if Mushfiqur could play well and become a member of that 'elite' club. If he could establish himself as the 11th century scorer in his 100th Test.

Countless Mushfiqur fans were eagerly waiting to see it. This time, he did not disappoint his fans. Mushfiqur batted brilliantly at number 5 in Sher-e-Bangla on Wednesday. It was clear that he had come out on the field expecting a century.

He played patiently, except for one or two isolated shots. The entire innings was structured in mathematical batting. He did exactly what was required. He did not try to play any shots by taking unnecessary risks. He waited for loose deliveries. He scored runs from half-volleys, over-pitched and short-length deliveries. He played defensively, showing respect for good balls.

It seemed that he would not return to the dressing room without hitting the 13th century of his career. But despite coming within striking distance of a century, he could not touch it on the first day of the Dhaka Test yesterday. At the end of the day, Mushfiqur returned to the dressing room unbeaten, just 1 run away from a century.

In the innings victory against Ireland in the first Test in Sylhet, the remaining five batsmen - Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Sadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Nazmul Hossain Shanto and Liton Das - all scored runs, but Mushfiqur did not. He was reduced to 23 runs.

The first day of the match was not as promising. Three bowlers, Sadman, Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Nazmul Hossain Shanto, were all out for 95 runs. From there, Mushfiqur remained unbeaten until the last ball of the day, scoring 99 not out off 187 balls.