'Happy to have bailed out team'

“I am not disappointed at missing the hundred. I am happy that I was able to lead the team to a good total from a tough situation,” Mahmudullah said after scoring a defiant unbeaten 96.

The 23-year-old said he remained positive despite coming to crease when the hosts lost six wickets for just 106 runs. “I had to remain positive since I was batting with tailenders and that was the only way to score runs.”

Mahmudullah said he had not given any special instructions to Rubel Hossain, his partner, when he reached the 90s. “I did given any special instructions to Rubel. I just wanted to take singles off the last ball of every over, but that did not happen in Pragyan Ojha’s over, and Harbhajan exploited that in the next over.”

Indian cricketers went up to the youngster and congratulated him. “Bhajji came and told me ‘well played’. Then Yuvraj came to me and said, ‘It was a good innings despite missing the hundred’.”

Mahmudullah felt the Bangladesh top-order needed to pull up its socks. “There is something wrong with the top-order but the batsmen have been trying to work out the problems at the nets. I think they will get back their form soon.”

He also gave credit to India’s bowlers. “They are very good bowlers and they bowled in the right areas. They were also helped by the early moisture.”