Perseverance pays off
Sports Reporter
Compared to his teammates, Rajin Saleh's batting average in the one-day game is quite decent. However, the stockily-built middle-order batsman's is still not a permanent fixture in the side.After disappointing in the first two games against Sri Lanka at Bogra, the national selectors retained him in the squad but only gave him a chance in the fourth match of the series against Kenya when the home team had already confirmed series victory with an unassailable 3-0 lead. But the 24-year old Sylhet right-hander, who has an average of 21.90 in his previous 33 encounters, grabbed the opportunity with both hands and became only the third batsman in the country after Mehrab Hossain and Mohammad Ashraful to make a one-day hundred with a scintillating unbeaten 108-run knock. It is also the highest individual score in the shorter-version for Bangladesh. The day belonged to Saleh as he pulled off almost everything that he attempted. With the scoreboard reading 62 for 3 the opener, who replaced Javed Omar in the match, not only kept his nerve to finish the game but also produced some quality shots which is not a common feature of his batting. "No doubt it is my best innings because the first century is always special. I was included in the playing side after a five-match gap, that's why I tried my best and thankfully I was successful," said the soft-spoken Rajin. "I never wasted time when I was out of action. I always believe that only hard work can help me to get back my place," explained Rajin about his strategy towards success. He was excited with his comeback hundred but he was especially happy because his efforts had helped Bangladesh to an emphatic victory. "The hundred was never in mind during my stay at the middle because my main concern was to help my team. It was especially satisfactory for me that I was able to finish the game by batting through," he added. Rajin agreed that luck also favoured him to make his maiden one-day hundred. "It is not unlikely to see one or two chances in a big knock and it was also the case for me. I thoroughly enjoyed the day in the middle," he said adding that his mid-wicket boundary against paceman Tony Suji on his way to hundred was his best shot in the 113-ball 108 unbeaten innings.
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