Bangladesh batter Sobhana Mostary has attributed her milestone maiden ODI century to a strategic focus on square-of-the-wicket scoring, an approach that proved vital against a disciplined Australia attack. Despite her historic individual performance in the second ODI in Brisbane, Bangladesh ultimately succumbed to a nine-wicket defeat, with Australia chasing down the target of 220-6 in just 28.1 overs to secure an unassailable 2-0 series lead. Reaching 221-1 with 131 balls to spare to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, australia chased down Bangladesh’s 220-6 in just 28.1 overs. “Perhaps I scored the century because I was confident that I was able to do it.
Reflecting on her 118-run knock off 134 balls, Mostary noted that her proficiency with cut shots has been a lifelong practice. She credited insights from team analyst Shaon and teammate Supta, who encouraged her to exploit the space behind the wicket. “My shots square off the wicket have always been good. I like to play cut shots. Even if it’s a turning wicket or a low wicket, I want to play cut shots,” she explained. She observed that Australia’s bowlers maintained excellent lines and lengths, but her patience in waiting for the right deliveries to cut allowed her to accumulate runs effectively. “So, I have always practiced this since I was young. So, when I heard that, actually, here, for example, before coming, Shaon Bhai, the national team analyst, was saying, ‘Sobhana, play square of the wicket there. So, these small pieces of information from others also actually came in handy,” she said.
The innings served as a significant landmark, marking the first century by a Bangladeshi woman against Australia and the first by a player from her country on Australian soil. Mostary admitted that achieving such a score was not on her mind when she arrived at the crease with the team struggling at 8-3. Partnering with Nigar Sultana, her initial focus was strictly on rebuilding the innings. “My target was, at first, the kind of situation I was in… so Jyoti Apu and I wanted to build,” she said, noting that the reality of a potential century only entered her thoughts after she reached 50. According to sobhana, She did not look too far ahead when she joined Nigar Sultana at the crease, with Bangladesh reeling at 8-3.
Mostary emphasized the importance of mental discipline during the high-stakes match. She resisted the temptation to force the pace against the Australian bowlers, choosing instead to defend or rotate the strike when the line was not favorable. By waiting for balls she could manipulate square of the wicket, she successfully anchored the Bangladesh total. She concluded that once she reached her half-century, the confidence gained from her execution encouraged her to push toward the three-figure mark, allowing her to capitalize on the opportunity in a high-pressure environment. So, today I feel I grabbed this opportunity,” she said.
