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To get a hundred or take a five-wicket haul in a Test match is always a special feeling for any cricketer. But to get both feelings in the same match? It must be very special. And what if you achieved both landmarks on the same day? It should be some dream-stuff. 

The third day of the second Test between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe on Wednesday was something like that for all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz. He became only the second cricketer in history after England legend Ian Botham to complete a hundred and a five-wicket haul on the same day.

It was Mehidy’s second hundred and 13th five-wicket haul in a career of 53 Tests. When he was asked whether it was the best day of his career, Mehidy didn’t answer that directly. 

 ‘Of course I’m happy. I scored a hundred and took three wickets against the West Indies. A five-wicket haul was missed for a bit that time. But we lost that match at this venue. This time it feels good that we have won. And achievement is always a nice feeling,’ said the 27-year-old all-rounder.

After a memorable day, Mehidy had some people to thank. He mentioned his batting coach Mizanur Rahman, manager Nafees Iqbal, and his bowling guru Sohel Islam’s name. 

He also thanked Taijul Islam, Tanzim Hasan, and Hasan Mahmud for helping him to get his hundred. 

But Mehidy was happier to contribute to the team's win. He mentioned that they needed the win badly. 

 ‘Alhamdulillah. I’m very happy. Moreover, after the loss in the first match, we needed the win, and we came back. We were committed to doing well,’ he said.

It was also a day of milestones for Mehidy as he became only the second player from Bangladesh to score a hundred and take a five-for in the same Test.

He also achieved the double of 2,000 runs and 200 wickets on the same day and was the second player from his country to do so. On both occasions, Mehidy touched Shakib Al Hasan’s feat. 

Naturally the topic of comparison between them popped up in the post-match press conference. But Mehidy reiterated the fact that he only wanted to be ‘himself’. 

‘One thing is, as you said, Shakib bhai’s achievement is huge. Everyone asks me this question,’ he said.

‘But Shakib bhai played his role. My career started with bowling, and then I improved my batting, as I have that ability. I tried to improve. It helped our team. Of course I try to build myself in that way. But I want to play my game,’ Mehidy added. 

But he also admitted that his role changed after the departure of Shakib. 

‘When Shakib bhai was here, my role was something else,’ said Mehidy. ‘Now it’s different. As everyone trusts me with my batting, including the team management, I also thought it was important.

‘Now it might be me who is playing the leading role which Shakib bhai used to do earlier. Now our responsibility is bigger. I think I should take this responsibility and perform. It will work out sometimes, but on other occasions it won’t. But the process should be right,’ added Mehidy.