Shanto’s challenge to continue purple patch

Najmul Hossain Shanto struck his second ton inside three days, picking up his fourth Test ton and in the process becoming just the second Bangladeshi score centuries in both innings of a Test match. Shanto achieved the feat with Mominul Haque batting at the other end, the batter who was first to record the feat for the Tigers. Their lean patches may have certain similarities, but for Shanto it was all about delivering after a show of faith and letting his bat do the talking for him.

"When life gives you lemons, make lemonade," Shanto posted on Facebook on Thursday. He portrayed that confidence after coming in to bat on Friday on an overnight score of 54, as he has done in a big way throughout the year, starting with the Bangladesh Premier League. He averages over 50 in all the formats this year.

Mominul, who watched on from close quarters, wanted Shanto to carry on in the same vein.

"In the first innings, when he got the hundred, we all wanted him to get the hundred in the second innings as well," Mominul said. The cheers from the dressing room yesterday after Shanto's ton signalled the value that the batter has now been able to put on his wicket. "We have to thank him for contributing with two tons for the team. It's a big thing," Mominul remarked.

Shanto shows little reservation in dispatching bad deliveries and his range of shots meant that anything short, wide or too full got taken for runs. "It feels like it's easy when you watch Shanto's innings. I feel like I should play like that, but it's difficult for me to play that way. Shanto converts bad deliveries into boundaries," Mominul added.

There was a certain dominance portrayed in these two fluent knocks from Shanto. That kind of patience and temperament to keep scoring can now allow him to reach new levels.

"A player becomes a big player when their good form continues. It's important to perform regularly. He should continue with his process without thinking much," Mominul said.

Having faced immense criticism due to a lack of form, Mominul knows a thing or two about rough patches. He identified his and Shanto's struggles.

"I have faced it myself. It's terrible. Those that go through it know. I felt like the whole world was on one side and I was on other. Only those who face it know. You can only maintain your process. The rest is up to the Almighty and whether he allows you to score runs. Shanto maintained his process. Although I don't know what he worked on, psychology-wise he was confident."