Tremendous batting display of Tamim Iqbal helped the Tigers to post 322 runs for eight in 50 overs, their highest against Zimbabwe in the second ODI of three-match series at Sylhet International Stadium on Tuesday, reports UNB.
After completing his century off 106 balls, Tamim ended on 158 for 136 with 20 fours and three sixes. It was his 12th century in the 50-over format of international cricket. The number one opener of Bangladesh hit his previous ton 20 months ago.
Due to recent lean performance, Tamim was under heavy criticism. But Tamim has shown himself and the skeptics that still didn’t lose his prowess.
Along the way, Tamim bettered himself to register the highest individual score by a Bangladeshi in ODIs.
The previous one, 154, was also against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo. At the same time, it was just second 150-plus score by a Bangladeshi batsman, and both were hit by the same batsman- Tamim Iqbal.
With his career-best knock, Tamim completed 7000 ODI runs as the first Bangladeshi. The southpaw took 204 ODI innings to complete this fate.
Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bat first. They have lost their first wicket when Liton Das backed on nine.
Liton, who hit his second ODI ton in the first game, backed to the dressing room being run out.
Bangladesh lost their second wicket due to run out again when Najmul Hossain Shanto backed to the dressing room for six.
However, in the third wicket stand, Mushfiqur Rahim and Tamim Iqbal added 87 runs. This stand was broken when Mushfiqur Rahim fell for 55 off 50 balls with six fours.
The wicketkeeper-batsman is under immense pressure from BCB to tour Pakistan. It seemed to hit his game. But the right-handed batsman proved that when he took the field he has nothing in his mind but scoring runs.
In the fourth wicket stand, Tamim and Mahmudullah Riyad added 106 runs to the board. Mahmudullah was a bit slow in the wicket compared to Tamim and Mahmudullah. He fell for 41 off 57 balls with three fours.
Number-six batsman, Mohammad Mithun, remained unbeaten for 32 off 18 balls with three fours and one six. But his lower middle-order partners- Mehidy Hasan Miraz (5), Mahsrafe Bin Mortaza (1) and Taijul Islam (0)- failed to accompany him properly. Eventually, Bangladesh ended on 322 runs for eight wickets in 50 overs.
Carl Mumba and Donald Tiripano bagged two wickets each for the tourists conceding 64 and 55 runs respectively while Charlton Tshuma and Wesley Madhevere scalped one wicket each.