Rahim's 144 one of the best in the Asia Cup
DUBAI (92 News) – Mushfiqur Rahim's 144 against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup 2018 opener was the highest individual score for Bangladesh in the tournament as well as the joint second-highest of all time.
Rahim walked in with his side in trouble at 1/2, which soon became 2/3 – or 3/3 with Tamim Iqbal retiring after being hit in the hand by a short ball from Suranga Lakmal.
Not only did he resurrect the innings and was the last wicket to fall, after Iqbal had come back to give him support, but also took Bangladesh to what later proved out to be match-winning total of 261.
Rahim farmed the strike towards the end, and Iqbal had to face just one ball as the wicket-keeper batsman moved from 112 to 132 in two overs, thereby bettering his previous best score of 117, before teeing off against Thisara Perera, hitting him for two sixes in the final over.
Even though Iqbal was later ruled out of the tournament, the Bangladesh bowlers made sure that Rahim and Iqbal's efforts didn't go in vain as they bowled Sri Lanka out for 124, completing a 137-run win.
Rahim's 144 stands only below Virat Kohli's 183, which the Indian scored against Pakistan in Mirpur in 2012, and is tied with Younis Khan's 144 for Pakistan against Hong Kong in 2004. However, Younis faced fewer balls than Rahim – 122 to 150.
Highest individual scores at the Asia Cup
| Batsman | Score | Opposition | |
| 1 | Virat Kohli | 183 | v Pakistan, 2012 |
| 2 | Younis Khan | 144 | v Hong Kong, 2004 |
| 3 | Mushfiqur Rahim | 144 | v Sri Lanka, 2018 |
| 4 | Shoaib Malik | 143 | v India, 2004 |
| 5 | Virat Kohli | 136 | v Bangladesh, 2014 |
