Mahedi thriving further up the order

Spinning-allrounder Mahedi Hasan has become the talk of the town with two consecutive half-centuries batting up the order in the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20. 

Sent in to bat at No 3 as an experiment from the Dhaka Platoon think tank, Mahedi first scored a sizzling 29-ball 59 against Cumilla Warriors Monday and then hammered another 28-ball 56 against Sylhet Thunder Tuesday. 

Both innings ensured comfortable victories for Dhaka. 

Mahedi said the opportunity to bat further up the order was the result of injury issues which his side are dealing with.

Mahedi chances his arm Dhaka Tribune/Md Manik

“I was a top-order batsman when I started playing first-class and List A cricket. Then I converted into a bowler and have been batting at different positions. I never got the opportunity to bat up the order in the BPL, as there have always been better batsmen in the teams that I have played for. We have injury issues [at Dhaka] and that is why I have been sent to bat here [at No 3] and I have been successful,” Mahedi said after the victory over Thunder at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium Tuesday.

Almost all the spinners are struggling on the high-scoring decks in the BBPL, and the 25-year-old Mahedi is leading local spinners in the tournament with five wickets to his name. 

Despite the attention his batting is getting, Mahedi still believes bowling is his primary strength.

“I had batted well at No 3 in the last game, so the team thought I should bat again in this position. I had started well as a batsman initially, but now bowling is my strength so I identify more as a bowling all-rounder,” he added.